Schenectady County Legislature honors 10th anniversary of ESYO’s CHIME program as students perform
December 10, 2025 | Schenectady County, New York
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The Schenectady County Legislature on Dec. 1 unanimously adopted a resolution recognizing the 10th anniversary of the Empire State Youth Orchestra’s CHIME (Creating Harmony, Inspiring Musical Empowerment) program and heard a performance by students from CHIME’s highest-level ensemble.
The resolution, read into the record and passed by voice and roll call, commended CHIME’s students, families, instructors and leadership and reaffirmed county support for the program.
Becky Callis, who identified herself as the SDS executive director, traced CHIME’s path from a 2015 spring launch with about 25 students at Yates Elementary School to a countywide program she said now serves “approximately a 170 students in grades 1 through 12 across the Schenectady City School District.” Callis told legislators the program has grown through partnerships with district educators, families and community groups and said CHIME aims to expand further through a planned renovation of a building in Scotia that would enable the program to partner with additional school districts across Schenectady County.
“Nick actually was in chime, went away to school, came back, and now he's teaching in the program,” Callis said as an example of CHIME’s continuity and local workforce development. CHIME director Zoe Auerbach described the Espressivo ensemble — the students performing that evening — as the program’s highest level and encouraged the public to attend holiday concerts at Proctors the following day.
Students introduced themselves from the stage and briefly described their instruments and tenure in CHIME: Rivie, an 11th grader who has played cello about eight years and been in CHIME about five years; Dan, a 10th grader and three-year CHIME participant; and others who said they have participated in CHIME from several months to 10 years.
The resolution was presented by Vice Chair Gatta and passed without discussion during the legislative roll call. The program’s presentation and student performance drew applause from the chamber before the legislature moved on to its regular business.
The legislature’s formal adoption of the resolution means the county officially recognized CHIME’s milestone during its December meeting; there was no separate county funding vote tied to the resolution at that time.
The resolution, read into the record and passed by voice and roll call, commended CHIME’s students, families, instructors and leadership and reaffirmed county support for the program.
Becky Callis, who identified herself as the SDS executive director, traced CHIME’s path from a 2015 spring launch with about 25 students at Yates Elementary School to a countywide program she said now serves “approximately a 170 students in grades 1 through 12 across the Schenectady City School District.” Callis told legislators the program has grown through partnerships with district educators, families and community groups and said CHIME aims to expand further through a planned renovation of a building in Scotia that would enable the program to partner with additional school districts across Schenectady County.
“Nick actually was in chime, went away to school, came back, and now he's teaching in the program,” Callis said as an example of CHIME’s continuity and local workforce development. CHIME director Zoe Auerbach described the Espressivo ensemble — the students performing that evening — as the program’s highest level and encouraged the public to attend holiday concerts at Proctors the following day.
Students introduced themselves from the stage and briefly described their instruments and tenure in CHIME: Rivie, an 11th grader who has played cello about eight years and been in CHIME about five years; Dan, a 10th grader and three-year CHIME participant; and others who said they have participated in CHIME from several months to 10 years.
The resolution was presented by Vice Chair Gatta and passed without discussion during the legislative roll call. The program’s presentation and student performance drew applause from the chamber before the legislature moved on to its regular business.
The legislature’s formal adoption of the resolution means the county officially recognized CHIME’s milestone during its December meeting; there was no separate county funding vote tied to the resolution at that time.
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