Our Mission

Orchestra Tikvah is a youth chamber orchestra dedicated to nurturing the next generation of Jewish musicians by affirming that Jewish identity is not a limitation, but a powerful source of artistic strength and inspiration.

Through musical excellence, cultural exploration, and community engagement, we empower students to embrace their Judaism as an integral part of their creative voice. We cultivate an orchestra where Jewish values, heritage, and culture enrich musical expression, and where young artists grow not only as musicians, but as proud, thoughtful members of both the Jewish and artistic communities.

The Need We Address

Jewish youth with a passion for classical music often struggle to find spaces where their artistic growth and Jewish identity are in harmony. In many orchestral settings, students may feel pressure to downplay their Jewishness. Meanwhile, Jewish programs rarely create high-level, Jewish-centered opportunities in classical music.

This gap results in Jewish musicians who may excel artistically but feel disconnected from their heritage, or Jewishly committed teens who lack access to spaces where musical excellence can thrive.

Orchestra Tikvah meets this need by providing a rigorous, professional-level chamber orchestra experience explicitly grounded in Jewish identity, values, and culture. Through our 2026 program, 20 Jewish string students will gather for intensive rehearsals, coaching, and performances—drawing on Jewish composers who consciously wove their heritage into their art.

We also address a broader communal need: fostering Jewish pride and connection in an era of rising antisemitism. By performing for seniors, preschools, and the wider community, participants strengthen their own identities and serve as cultural ambassadors.

What Makes Us Different

Few programs combine serious artistic training with a robust Jewish identity framework. Music camps and youth symphonies exist, but they are not Jewish spaces; Jewish youth programs exist, but they rarely focus on high-level performance.

Orchestra Tikvah stands at the intersection of Jewish identity and musical excellence. Participants engage with repertoire that reflects Jewish culture, heritage, and creativity—and perform as ambassadors through community concerts and a public gala.

Our Vision for Impact

• Participants: Stronger musicianship, confident Jewish identity, and lasting peer connections—seeing themselves in a lineage of Jewish creativity.
• Jewish community: Inspiration and pride across generations through public performances.
• Broader culture: Normalizing and celebrating Jewish identity in artistic spaces; establishing Orchestra Tikvah as a cornerstone of Jewish cultural expression in Nashville.

Within three years, we envision a growing alumni cohort who carry their dual identity as Jews and musicians into college and professional settings.

A Response to Our Moment

At a time of rising antisemitism and cultural alienation, Orchestra Tikvah provides an affirming space where Jewish identity is celebrated as artistic strength. Students leave as stronger musicians and proud, resilient Jews ready to carry that pride into the wider world.

This program is designed for excellence—professional coaching, high-level repertoire, and serious artistic rigor—for a transformative experience that shapes the future of Jewish culture and the arts in Nashville.