The Central Texas Philharmonic Youth Orchestra is in its fifth season serving students, grades 7 - 12, in the Round Rock, Georgetown and surrounding Central Texas communities. Orchestra members develop musicianship on their chosen instrument while honing leadership, collaboration, and self-discipline skills that can be applied in all aspects of their lives.
With varied performance opportunities (small and large ensembles and side-by-side concerts with the Central Texas Philharmonic), CTP Youth Orchestra is cultivating the love of music within the next generation of performers and audience members. Students are contributing members of a positive, supportive, and diverse team working together toward a common goal.
Elizabeth McCallum
Elizabeth McCallum is a senior at Georgetown High School where she is a four-year member of both of GHS’s varsity orchestral groups. Accomplished on piano, violin, and pedal harp, Elizabeth has played all three instruments with the varsity orchestras and has earned the position of Concertmaster. She has also played in both the string ensemble and harp ensemble. The musical activity at GHS that Elizabeth has most enjoyed was the opportunity to play harp in the pit orchestra for the annual school musical.
Elizabeth was selected for the All-Region High School String Orchestra during her first three years of high school and for the All-Area String Orchestra twice. In addition, she has qualified for the UIL State Solo and Ensemble Contest on harp, piano, and violin. During her junior year, Elizabeth was awarded TMEA’s Texas Music Scholar Award, which recognizes excellence in scholarship, musicianship, and citizenship.
Elizabeth began piano lessons at Armstrong Community Music School when she was four years old and has studied piano with Erin Ferguson Young for over thirteen years. She started violin lessons a year later at Dolce Music Studio and currently studies there with Steve Merson. Beginning in middle school, she fulfilled her longtime dream to take harp lessons, studying with Sara Watson.
Elizabeth participates in every musical opportunity available to her at GHS and also competes on the UIL Academic math teams. She is a member of National Honor Society as well as the math and Spanish honor societies and was recently named a National Merit Scholar Semifinalist. In her free time, she enjoys crocheting, needlework, and Legos and always looks forward to summer vacations when she and her family travel to national parks throughout the United States. Elizabeth is excited to have the opportunity to play with CTPYO again this year.
Jacob Bergeron
Jacob Bergeron is an 8th grade trumpet player at Walsh Middle School in Round Rock. In the spring of 2023 he was a semi-finalist in the National Trumpet Competition and in 2021 he performed with the Walsh Honor Band at The Midwest Clinic, International Band and Orchestra Festival.