History of the BNYS

The Bloomington Normal Youth Symphony was founded in 1989 by Dr. Howard Rye as an outgrowth of the many ensembles he coached in his home. He conducted the Symphony until the Fall of 1994 when Deanne Bryant became its conductor.

Mrs. Bryant is retired from Unit #5 Schools, Normal, Illinois, where she started the string program in 1969 and worked with its development. The NCHS Orchestra received state-wide recognition with its performance at the Illinois Music Educators Conference All-State Convention in 1982. The groups consistently received top ratings at IHSA contests and did several performance tours including those to Canado, New Orleans, Louisiana, and Orlando, Florida. She has guest conducted festival orchestras as well as adjudicated for numerous contests.

As well as working with the BNYS, Mrs. Bryant is also currently a Music Faculty Adjunct at Illinois Wesleyan University. She is a forty year member of ENC/IMRA having held positions at the state level and is also a member of the American String Teachers Association/National School Orchestra Association.

The Bloomington Normal Youth Symphony draws musicians from Bloomington-Normal and surrounding area schools and maintains about 60 members. It relies on the volunteer help from parents. It is the hope of the Board of Directors that the symphony will remain an outstanding orchestra in the community that challenges its participants and helps them increase their knowledge and skills in music.