The Oakland Youth Orchestra Bridge Program

Edna Brewer Middle School, Fruitvale District (2009)

The OYO Bridge Lesson Scholarship program is a pipeline or feeder program that allows gifted OUSD middle school music students from low-income families to receive private music lessons, thus improving their chances of being accepted into the Oakland Youth Orchestra, a gateway to opportunity in the world of music. This program improved students’ skills, thereby improving their entire school music and band program. OFFTA funds provided the scholarships at this particular school. The music students who benefited from this program would not otherwise have been able to afford private lessons.