Youth Orchestra of Greater Columbus (YOGC) will host a Virtual 5k race the week of March 4-7, 2021, with one important question in mind: Can you beat Beethoven?

The premise is that Beethoven’s 5th Symphony, with its unmistakable opening, takes approximately 33 minutes and 32 seconds to play and provides runners a finish-time goal to train for and race against. This new fundraiser for YOGC will be a virtual race to be completed by participants on their own between March 4th and March 7th. Because of its virtual nature, runners can compete from anywhere in the world while connecting with other participants via our Strava run club group. For runners local to the Chattahoochee Valley, YOGC musicians will be playing in small groups along a suggested race route the morning of Saturday, March 6th, 9:30am to 11:00am.

Registration for the race is $35 and is open through March 7th, 5:00pm athttps://runsignup.com/Race/GA/Columbus/YOGC2021Beethoven5K. All participants will receive a digital swag bag and t-shirt, which will be sent after the race concludes. Participants who post a photo or screenshot with a time of less than 33:32 within the race period (March 4-7) will also receive an "I beat Beethoven" button to commemorate their achievement after the conclusion of the race.

“YOGC’s board and staff are excited to start training and connecting with other community members to kick off the new year! With a friendly, slightly competitive spirit, we can help each other beat Beethoven, learn a little bit about music, and support the amazing young musicians in YOGC.” - Stephanie Payne, YOGC Executive Director.

Since 1993, the Youth Orchestra of Greater Columbus has been teaching the area’s most talented young musicians. Led by nationally-awarded Music Director and Conductor Jim Palmer, YOGC maintains the only symphonic orchestral opportunity in the region for string, brass, wind, and percussion musicians; a string orchestra for intermediate string players; a chamber group program; a non-adjudicated music festival provided at no cost to local public school music programs; and a week-long summer string camp focused on alternative genres of music and playing styles. For additional information e-mail [email protected].