Youth Ensembles
The Santa Rosa Symphony Youth Ensembles (SRSYE) comprises students from elementary through college level who are invited to join one of the groups following a competitive but caring audition process. Members represent public and private schools throughout Sonoma, Napa, and Marin counties. The SRSYE offer in-depth study of selected orchestral literature under the direction of professional conductors, coaching by outstanding professional musicians of the Santa Rosa Symphony, and public performances throughout the year. These educators motivate students to fulfill their potential and strive for excellence. Participation in an ensemble promotes appreciation of the performing arts in the community and upholds the tradition of classical concert music. Membership in one of our youth ensembles will provide a rich and rewarding educational experience for students who wish to expand their knowledge and skills in music while performing with a group of peers who have similar interests and abilities.
Read about each ensemble by selecting the tabs below:
| Ensemble name | Ensemble type | Level | Age range | Rehearsals | Auditions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Rosa Symphony Youth Orchestra (SRSYO) | Full Orchestra | Advanced | 12-23 | Thursday evenings | Level 3 Audition Packet |
| Young People’s Chamber Orchestra (YPCO) | String Ensemble | Advanced | 12-23 | Monday evenings | Level 3 Audition Packet |
| Aspirante Youth Orchestra (AYO) | Full Orchestra | Intermediate/Advanced | 10-18 | Saturday morning/afternoons | Level 2 Audition Packet |
| Debut Youth Orchestra (DYO) | Full Orchestra | Beginner/Intermediate | 9-15 | Saturday mornings | Level 1 Audition Packet |
| String Orchestra Workshop (SOW) | String classes | Beginners | 5-adult | Saturday mornings | No Audition Required |
| Saturday Morning Jazz | Jazz Ensemble | Intermediate/Advanced | – | Saturday mornings | Auditions held the first day of rehearsal |
Please email Youth Ensembles Manager Elena Sloman, esloman@srsymphony.org for more information.
Santa Rosa Symphony Youth Orchestra
For advanced players ages 12 yrs*–23 yrs
Thursdays 6:00 pm-9:00 pm
September–May
*(exceptional students accepted)
The Santa Rosa Symphony Youth Orchestra (SRSYO) comprises advanced students, typically 12-23 years of age, who are studying privately and have had previous orchestral training. Many members started in the Debut Youth Orchestra and earned their position in the Santa Rosa Symphony Youth Orchestra through growth, experience and skill.
The Santa Rosa Symphony Youth Orchestra is among the oldest orchestras of its kind in California and has performed in Carnegie Hall and Davies Symphony Hall. The orchestra has toured in Germany, the Czech Republic, China, Austria, Hungary and Spain.
Members typically have more performing opportunities than students in the Debut and Aspirante Youth Orchestras and must be committed to a strict routine of rehearsals, private lessons, and at-home practice. Music performed is from the standard orchestral repertoire.
Formed in October 1959, as the Sonoma County Junior Symphony, under the direction of founding conductor Eugene Shepherd, the orchestra’s name was changed, in 1994, to the Santa Rosa Symphony Youth Orchestra and is currently led by guest conductors. A new conductor will be selected in January 2025 following a comprehensive search.
The SRSYO has helped prepare musicians who have pursued a professional music career with numerous professional ensembles throughout California and beyond, including the Santa Rosa Symphony, San Francisco Symphony, Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, San Francisco Opera Orchestra, American Bach Soloists, Oakland Symphony, Musica Angelica, Sacramento Symphony, Napa Valley Symphony, and more.
SRSYO Tour 2025
Santa Rosa Symphony Youth Orchestra will embark on an international tour to Germany & the Netherlands in June 2025! They will perform and explore in Berlin, Leipzig, Düsseldorf, and Amsterdam, experiencing cultural exchanges and learning to be musical ambassadors and global citizens.
SRSYO Concerto Competition
The Santa Rosa Symphony Youth Orchestra Concerto Competition is open to Santa Rosa Symphony Youth Orchestra members.
Please email Youth Ensembles Manager Elena Sloman, esloman@srsymphony.org for more information.
We gratefully acknowledge the generous contributions from the following:
The Santa Rosa Symphony Youth Orchestra is sponsored by Nancy Doyle, MD in memory of her father Edward S. Doyle
Young People’s Chamber Orchestra
For advanced string players 12 yrs*-23 yrs
Mondays 6:00 pm-8:30 pm
September–March
*(exceptional student accepted)
The Young People’s Chamber Orchestra (YPCO), a string orchestra working without a conductor, is designed to take accomplished young string players and mold them into high-functioning musicians with a complete attentiveness to detail and to each other within the context of the music. The director trains the musicians to interact and collaborate on high-level music-making and nuanced performance.
This orchestra is for students up to 23 years of age who are studying privately and have had previous orchestral training. It is modeled after the Bay Area’s renowned New Century Chamber Orchestra and is the first youth ensemble of its kind in northern California.
All members of the Young People’s Chamber Orchestra are strongly encouraged to be enrolled in another of the Santa Rosa Symphony ensembles or their school’s orchestra, and must be committed to a strict routine of rehearsals, private lessons and at-home practice.
Established in 1998, the Young People’s Chamber Orchestra was formed under the direction of Linda Ghidossi-DeLuca, who led this ensemble until 2008.
Currently under the direction of Aaron Westman, the orchestra has been featured as a guest on a New Century Chamber Orchestra performance and has been a winner of the Berkeley Junior Bach Festival.
Please email YPCO manager Laura Leipzig, lleipzig@srsymphony.org for more information.
We gratefully acknowledge the generous contributions from the following:
The Young People’s Chamber Orchestra is sponsored by Garth Bixler
Aspirante Youth Orchestra
For intermediate to advanced players ages 10 yrs*-18 yrs
Saturdays 11:00 am-1:00 pm
Coaching bi-weekly 10:00-10:50 am
September–May
*(exceptional student accepted)
The Santa Rosa Symphony Aspirante Youth Orchestra (AYO) continues the musical experience by providing an opportunity for intermediate to advanced students to perform a wide variety of repertoire within a full orchestra.
To qualify, students must have been playing their instrument a minimum of three years and have prior ensemble experience — at least one year in Debut Youth Orchestra or the equivalent. Approximate age range of orchestra members is 10-18 years.
Aspirante Youth Orchestra members are expected to have private instruction on their instrument and follow a regular practice routine. Aspirante performs more than Debut, participating in a day tour and a number of outreach performances for local youth.
Founded in 1994 as the Discovery Orchestra under the baton of William R. Williams, the ensemble was renamed the Repertory Orchestra in 2011, and then again renamed the Santa Rosa Symphony Aspirante Youth Orchestra in 2018.
It is currently conducted by Julio Reyes.
Please email Youth Ensembles manager Elena Sloman, esloman@srsymphony.org for more information.
Listen to Aspirante Youth Orchestra:
We gratefully acknowledge the generous contributions from the following:
The Aspirante Youth Orchestra is sponsored by Jennifer & Donavon Ammons
Debut Youth Orchestra
For beginning to intermediate players 9 yrs-15 yrs
Saturdays 9:15 am-10:45 am
Coaching bi-weekly 11:00-11:45 am
September–May
The Santa Rosa Symphony Debut Youth Orchestra (DYO) provides a solid foundation for younger students to learn to play within a full orchestra under the direction of a professional conductor. Students learn to follow the lead of a conductor, understand music notation, style and gain experience performing before live audiences.
To qualify, students must have played their instrument for a minimum of two years. Some prior ensemble training or experience in a performing group is also desirable. Due to the intensive nature of this group, it is recommended that the minimum age of new students be nine years old. Debut students typically may be as old as 15 years.
It is strongly recommended that all members study their instrument with a private teacher and practice their instrument regularly.
The Debut Youth Orchestra was formed as the Preparatory Orchestra under the direction of Jack Murphy in 1977.
It is currently conducted by Matt Bringedahl.
Please email Youth Ensembles manager Elena Sloman, esloman@srsymphony.org for more information.
We gratefully acknowledge the generous contributions from the following:
Santa Rosa Symphony Debut Youth Orchestra sponsored by Gordon Blumenfeld
Savannah Hill Music Scholarship Fund
String Orchestra Workshop
For beginners 5 years – adult (no audition required_
Saturdays 9:00 am-10:00 am, or 10:00 am-11:00 am (by assignment)
September-May
The String Orchestra Workshop (SOW) provides beginning musicians ages 5 to adult with an opportunity to learn to play their instrument in a group setting or improve their instrument skills with others in a small ensemble, preparing musicians for the full-orchestra experience. Players work directly with string coaches, and the smaller group allows for greater personal attention, building strong foundational skills.
Musicians who are brand new to violin, viola, cello and bass, as well as those who have been playing any of these instruments for up to one year, are encouraged to enroll.
String Orchestra Workshop is currently instructed by Jeanette Isenberg and Karen Zimmerman.
Session I: 12 meetings from September through December
Session II: 14 meetings from January through April
Please email SOW manager Jennifer Vaughn, SOW.JenV@gmail.com for more information.
Jazz Ensemble
For intermediate to advanced students of any instrument
Saturdays 9:30 am-11:00 am
September-April
Saturday Morning Jazz Ensemble is for intermediate to advanced students of any instrument who want to experience jazz in both large ensemble and small combo settings, with opportunities for improvising, under the direction of the dynamic bassist and educator Robert Bowman. Meeting weekly to learn the skills and techniques of improvisation, this group is open to students who play non-orchestral instruments such as saxophone, guitar and keyboard, as well as other winds, strings, brass and, of course, drums.
This ensemble was founded in 2022 following the success of the Summer Music Academy Jazz Ensemble course.
Saturday Morning Jazz Ensemble is directed by Robert Bowman.
Limited opportunities for vocalists are offered on a case-by-case basis.
Please contact Jazz Ensemble Director Robert Bowman, SRSYE.Jazz@gmail.com, 707-953-7643 for more information.
Aspirante Youth Orchestra`s coaching sessions were hard at work today preparing for next week`s DYO, AYO, and Jazz concert "PORTRAITS IN SOUND" 🎶🖼
Thank you, coaches. They`re sounding great! 👏
Come hear AYO and their fellow ensembles on Sunday, Nov 24 at 3:00PM, Jackson Theater SCDS.
Thank you to David and all our trumpet (and euphonium) players for presenting a great masterclass!
Big shoutout to @srhsinstrumentalmusic for graciously hosting us in the band room that is an old familiar place for our guest artist.
Don`t miss the concert on Sunday, 7pm at Weill Hall, GMC 🎶
Bonus photo with their trumpet teacher @jugglingtrumpets 🎺👨🏫
We are heading into our fifth and final week of PRACTICE-A-THON!
Each week at rehearsals we see our young musicians putting in the time and effort to build on their musicianship and prepare for our upcoming fall concerts. They`re proving Practice Makes Progress!
This annual fundraiser helps our members accomplish practice goals and raise awareness and funds for our programs. 180+ young musicians across our 6 ensembles have been logging their practice hours and searching for sponsors between October 19 and November 24, 2024.
🍂🎼Come hear the results of their practice at the FALL CONCERTS:
📅 Sun 11/17 SRSYO "Romantic Masters"
📅 Sat 11/23 YPCO "Heavy Harmonies, Bright Counterpoint"
📅 Sun 11/24 DYO, AYO, & Jazz "Portraits in Sound"
💸 We are 75% of the way to our goal of $8,000. Please help us reach our goal by December 2nd, 2024!
Donations for Practice-a-Thon must include the student`s name to receive sponsor credit.
Mission Statement
Santa Rosa Symphony Youth Ensembles’ mission is to offer young musicians an exceptional educational experience by providing the finest quality orchestral training and performance opportunities in Sonoma County. Our goal is for young musicians to develop an awareness and appreciation of great music in the context of learning responsibility and teamwork, while they participate in our community through public
performance. Students can begin instruments as young as five years old at our Summer Music Academy, and remain in our training programs as they excel, into their first years of college.