The Lake Norman Orchestra has become part of the musical soul of the Lake Norman area.
Conducted by Sam Kyzer, the Lake Norman Orchestra sets the standard for excellence as the largest and most successful community-based musical arts organization in the South Iredell region. This all-volunteer, non-profit orchestra performs six to eight events a year between April and December, and reaches a diverse community of listeners.

Originally developed as an adult community group of 20 musicians, the LKNO now embraces those community musicians who desire to improve their musicianship, share their talent with their peers and provide quality entertainment throughout the Piedmont region of North Carolina.

ABOUT THE LKNO CHAMBER STRINGS

Personnel

Sarah Bamford, Violin
Jason Bamford, Violin
Sam Kyzer, Viola
Holly Scott, Viola
Heidi Morgan, Cello
Karen Marsico, Cello
Willow Groskreutz, Bass

The Chamber Strings members are members of The Lake Norman Orchestra. Started as a quartet, this versatile group of orchestral strings performs a wide variety of classical standards and popular music. They have performed at:

Barium Springs Children’s Home in Troutman
Novant Health Huntersville
Christmas in Davidson
and in conjunction with concerts by the full orchestra

ABOUT THE ORCHESTRA

The Lake Norman Orchestra has become part of the musical soul of the Lake Norman area. In 2001, William and Nanette Haraden and Todd and Cheryl Lary moved to the area, and set about creating a permanent orchestra that exemplifies the community’s sense of cultural life, while delivering an eclectic mix of classics and new sounds. In May 2003, the 20-member Lake Norman Orchestra, then conducted by Haraden, gave its first performance, and woke up the sleepy lakeside community with its vibrant symphony and musical passion. Later, as the orchestra matured, Music Director Joshua Stevenson took the baton, and the orchestra continued to add more performances.

In 2012, members of the orchestra took it’s first concert tour in Vienna and Salzburg, Austria. The orchestra continues to grow, with it’s inclusion of high school and collegiate-level musicians who want to complement to their regular studies and hone their musical skills. The Lake Norman Orchestra currently serves South Iredell, North Mecklenburg, East Lincoln and West Cabarrus counties and performs throughout the year, beginning in March and continuing through early December. With it’s performances at regional venues and a concert tour in Europe under it’s belt, the orchestra’s musical repertoire is as diverse as its membership. A hardworking Board of Directors and countless volunteers support the orchestra’s program. Funding comes from private foundations, public grants, ticket sales and private individuals. Rehearsals are held every Monday evening, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. in facilities graciously donated by the Peninsula Baptist Church in Mooresville.

CONDUCTOR

Sam Kyzer has taught piano, guitar, orchestral strings, voice, and a wide variety of wind instruments through Ludmila European Performing Arts Academy in Cornelius for the past 12 years. He is a retired music teacher with almost four decades of service in public schools. He earned a bachelor’s degree in music education from the University of Georgia and a master’s degree at Louisiana State University. In addition to conducting school orchestras, choirs, and bands, he has directed church choirs, praise bands, and served as an associational mass choir coordinator. Sam is a professional trombonist, a trumpet soloist, and assistant director with the Salisbury Swing Band. He is the pianist and music director for Classic Broadway and More, a member of the Piedmont Classical Guitar Society, and played viola in the Lake Norman Orchestra prior to becoming the Conductor. Mr. Kyzer enjoys his three adult children and six grandchildren and lives in Mooresville with his wife Jenny.

OUR MUSICIANS

Due to our faithful supporters, the Lake Norman Orchestra is privileged to be able to contribute to furthering education in our community. The FAQ below provides answers to common questions about the LKNO College Scholarship.

The Lake Norman Orchestra’s (LKNO’s) mission is to enhance, inspire, strengthen, and educate our community through exceptional music performances and to build strong, creative partnerships with schools, local government, businesses, and other organizations.

The Orchestra consists entirely of volunteer musicians who practice weekly on Monday nights and perform concerts throughout the region. This requires dedication on the members’ part, especially the high school students who practice and perform with LKNO in addition to their multiple outside commitments and studies. To reward these students who rehearse and perform regularly with the Lake Norman Orchestra for their dedication and contributions, we are pleased to offer high school seniors the opportunity to apply for a $1000 college scholarship each April.

SCHOLARSHIP

To be eligible to apply for the LKNO scholarship, students must meet the below listed criteria:

Must be planning on graduating from an accredited high school this academic year
Must be active member for a minimum of 2 years, and participate in a minimum of 3 concerts per year
Section leader must attest to consistent rehearsal attendance and etiquette
Must demonstrate a high level of musicianship, i.e., being prepared for rehearsals and concerts
Must be earning a minimum of an unweighted 3.0 GPA
Must plan to enroll full-time in a bachelor’s degree or associate’s degree program at an accredited higher education institution in the fall directly after your graduation from high school
Must complete and submit the LKNO Scholarship Application by April 1. Applications submitted after the deadline will not be accepted.