Pursue excellence with ETYO.

Inspiring our musicians through the performing arts is at the heart of what we do.

“When you look at me you may think that I’m “just a kid”, and you are right - I’m just a hard-working kid who loves music! I picked up my violin when I was 7 years old and I haven’t put it down since. Not only do I participate in ETYO, I also play in the strings program at my school. I play my violin at least five days a week, sometimes more if I can find an audience.”

Olivia, ETYO Philharmonic Orchestra member

Are you an aspiring orchestral or Jazz musician?

Do you know someone who is?

the 2025-2026 Season

Auditions Are Open!!

visit etyo.org/auditions

Audition Video Submission Deadline is August 22

Introducing Tom Mensch,
our new Music & Artistic Director,

Tom Mensch is a seasoned educator, conductor and trombonist based in East Texas. He currently serves as Principal Trombonist of the Longview Symphony Orchestra, and has performed with numerous regional ensembles, including the Shreveport Symphony, South Arkansas Symphony, Altoona Symphony, and Orchestra of the Pines. He is also a founding member of the Rose City Brass Quintet and performs regularly in a variety of professional settings including jazz, chamber, and sacred music ensembles.

Tom has performed in over a dozen countries around the world, including Japan, Russia, Finland, Guatemala, and Scotland, and is widely respected for his stylistic versatility, musical sensitivity, and technical excellence. In addition to his performing career, he is an artist for Greg Black Mouthpieces and XO Brass, contributing to the development of their professional trombone line.

Tom currently serves as Director of Bands at Whitehouse High School. Previously, he served for over a decade as Director of Bands and Professor of Trombone at Tyler Junior College, where he helped build and lead a nationally recognized band program. His students have gone on to successful careers in performance, education, and music production.