GTiYO Travels to Londrina, Brazil in July

The Greater Toledo International Youth Orchestra will be traveling to Londrina, Brazil on July 9th to begin a multi-city tour that will include five Concert performances in various cities including Londrina, Brazil, Iguazu Falls, and Toledo. Londrina, Brazil is Toledo, Ohio’s newest Sister City .

This youth orchestra, led by Conductor, Mr. Yang Kun Song of Sylvania, Ohio, is composed of students from several school districts in the Northwest Ohio area including southern Michigan. Mr. Song has been directing and conducting youth orchestras in the area since 2000. GTiYO's mission is to “Bridge cultural diversity through music.” In doing so, Mr. Song has led his orchestras on numerous trips abroad including Peru, Korea, Canada, Tanzania, East Africa, Poland, Germany, Vienna, Hungary, Spain, South America, Italy, Japan, and most recently China in 2025.

While in Brazil, the students will be performing at a Music Festival as well as traveling to the cities of Londrina, Toledo, and Iguazu where they will also perform.

The Greater Toledo International Youth Orchestra has worked together with The Toledo Sister Cities International to reach out and connect with our Sister Cities all over the world. The Greater Toledo International Youth Orchestra’s commitment as emissaries of world peace, through the medium of music, supports the fundamental mission of Toledo Sister Cities International; to build bridges to promote world peace and harmony. Mr. Joseph Walsh, President of the Toledo Sister Cities program, who has assisted in the planning of the trip, will also be traveling with the orchestra on their trip in July.

The Greater Toledo International Youth Orchestra is supported in part by The University of Toledo and guided by Dr. Jason Stumbo, Director of Visual and Performing Arts. Performances of the Greater Toledo International Youth Orchestra are open to the public at Doermann Theater on the campus of the University of Toledo and will begin again for the 2026-2027 Performance Season in November.

For more information, contact Mia Kujawa at 419-509-7577 [email protected]