Our Conductor
Dr. Doug Owens is a Professor of Music at UT Martin, where he teaches applied oboe, bassoon, and saxophone, and an adjunct professor of music at Union University, where he teaches double reeds. He is an active orchestral and chamber musician, performing in the LCD Woodwind Trio alongside fellow UTM faculty members Elizabeth Aleksander and Charles Lewis.
About the JSMA Youth Orchestra
The Jackson Symphony Music Academy Youth Orchestra offers an exciting and enriching opportunity for talented young musicians from Madison County and surrounding areas. Designed to challenge and inspire, the program helps students develop their musical skills to their fullest potential while performing dynamic and engaging orchestral literature.
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For the 2025–26 season, the Youth Orchestra will present two dedicated concerts of its own and will also join The Jackson Symphony for a special side-by-side performance at the Holiday Pops concert. This unique collaboration gives students invaluable firsthand experience performing alongside professional musicians. Under the guidance of Music Director Paul Haas, who will lead the side-by-side performance and make guest appearances at select rehearsals, students will receive mentorship and motivation from one of the industry’s most innovative conductors.
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In addition to full orchestra experiences, JSMA Youth Orchestra members will have opportunities to perform in smaller chamber ensembles, sharing their music with the community through outreach performances across Jackson.
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Each spring, the Music Academy hosts a public Concerto Competition for current Youth Orchestra members. Finalists perform before an audience and a panel of judges, with the winner earning a featured solo performance at the Spring Concert and a $500 cash prize.
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To further support students in their musical journey, the JSMA Youth Orchestra awards three scholarships annually to graduating seniors. Recipients are selected based on set criteria by a panel of Symphony staff, board members, and sponsors.
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Admission to the Youth Orchestra is by audition only. Serious young musicians who play string instruments, orchestral brass and woodwinds, or percussion are encouraged to audition. Weekly rehearsals take place on Thursday evenings from 7–9 p.m. at Union University. Tuition for the 2025–26 season is $350.
The Latest
$1 Million Gift Establishes Kirkland Center for Music Excellence
Every student participating in The Jackson Symphony Music Academy and its Regional Music Centers will benefit from the Kirkland Center for Music Excellence. The purpose of the Kirkland Center is to foster artistic excellence, cultivate the next generation of musicians, and further elevate the cultural landscape of West Tennessee.
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For more information on the Kirkland Center, click below.