Charilyne Rojas - Orchestral Education Champion.
- Isobel Arden
- 12 minutes ago
- 3 min read
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Meet Charilyne Rojas.
In this interview, Mark invited Charilyne Rojas to create her own fantasy cultural year from the answers to some easy questions where there are no wrong answers. Enjoy her journey below.
Charilyne Rojas is a conductor, music educator, and communications dynamo whose passion for strings and students is as finely tuned as the instruments she leads.
As Conductor of the Young Performers Orchestra (YPO) at the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra (GDYO), she brings infectious energy, exacting musicality, and a knack for cultivating young talent.
A proud alumnus of GDYO herself, Charilyne's story comes full circle: she once sat in those very ensembles, and now she stands on the podium guiding the next generation.
She studied Music Education at the University of North Texas (UNT), earning her Bachelor of Music, and later taught in UNT’s String Project.
In her role at GDYO, Charilyne isn’t just waving her baton. She supports the organisation’s communications, alumni engagement, and digital presence. Whether coordinating YPO rehearsals or helping shape the youth orchestra’s wider narrative, she does it all with clarity, heart, and strategic vision.
Charilyne also teaches and mentors young musicians across the Dallas–Fort Worth area. She leads workshops, coaches school orchestras, and works directly with students in string programmes, sharing her deep knowledge of ensemble playing, bowing technique, and musical expression.
Her commitment to community is evident through her founding of Concerts for a Cause, a student-led initiative that empowers young musicians to bring joy to local communities through performance. She also supports arts access and education outside the rehearsal hall, so that music isn’t just an extracurricular—it’s a force for connection.
Charilyne Rojas proves every day that leading an orchestra isn’t just about conducting; it’s about teaching, communicating, and inspiring in equal measure.
Charilyne's Fantasy Cultural Year ... with a magic wand and time machine to hand.
Charilyne imagined a year-long cultural journey centred around youth music and arts.
The idea was that she would receive funding from a fictitious Parisian family foundation to travel the world, accompanied by a TV crew, with a book deal and a TED talk to follow.
She chose to dedicate the year to exploring youth music initiatives globally, starting her journey in Boston, where she would dive into local music programs and experience dance performances.
Around the World in Culture and Sport
They went on a playful tour of global cultural and sporting experiences:
Boston: Bolshoi’s Swan Lake, Italian dinners, and immersion into Romantic-period classical music (Beethoven, Tchaikovsky).
London: Ice skating and gymnastics, VR art galleries featuring Pictures at an Exhibition, exploration of European youth music programs.
Along the way, Charilyne shared her love for early childhood music education and arts advocacy, discussing how culture, sport, and music intersect with personal growth and global impact.
Dream Week in London
They imagined a dream cultural week in London:
Historic musical performances, including Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony and The Rite of Spring premiere
Shakespeare at The Globe
A West End musical (The Book of Mormon)
Opera at the Royal Opera House (Tosca)
A classic film (Roman Holiday)
Each event sparked personal memories and inspirations, from Charilyne’s early violin experiences to her growing fascination with immersive classical music and dance.
Dinner Party Fantasy
Finally, they played the “dinner guest” game. Charilyne chose Amy Beach, a trailblazing female composer, and imagined her inviting Fanny Mendelssohn for conversation over a luxurious Italian lunch in London.
Explore more about Charilyne below:
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Chief Culture Vulture
Arts & Culture Network
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