Youth Orchestras of the Bay Area, Part 1

Hi Everyone,

The following is part one of a compilation of some of the youth orchestras in the Bay Area for those of you interested in joining a youth orchestra for the upcoming school year. There are many youth orchestras in the Bay Area, so this list will be some of the more well-known groups. Part two will be coming soon and will contain some of the lesser known or smaller groups. Please keep in mind that this list does not include summer youth orchestras, as the audition dates for most of those orchestras have already passed.

Oakland Symphony Youth Orchestra

For advanced musicians in Bay Area schools ages 11-21, the Oakland Symphony Youth Orchestra is geared towards students participating in their school orchestra programs who also take individual lessons. With rehearsals from 2-6 pm at the Oakland School of Arts, the Oakland Symphony Youth Orchestra is a great options for those who are busy during the week and don't have time for rehearsals during the school week. Auditions typically take place in June, and consist of three components in addition to an audition application form: scales, a solo piece, and an excerpt located on the orchestra's website. To read more about the Oakland Symphony Youth Orchestra, visit their website.

Young People's Symphony Orchestra

As the oldest youth orchestra in California, the Young People's Symphony Orchestra is one of the most well established orchestras in the Bay Area. Comprised of over 100 members ranging from ages 11-21, the Young People's Symphony Orchestra has toured in many countries and performed in various venues. As this orchestra is more advanced, most students are in late middle school or high school. YPSO rehearses on Monday evenings in Oakland from 5:45-9:45 pm. The final audition deadline for the 2021-2022 season is August 15th. For more information on auditions and YPSO, click here. Feel free to visit the Bow Buddies interview with Julie Kim, a YPSO Violin 1 Coach here!

San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra

As likely the most prestigious and advanced youth orchestra in the Bay Area, the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra is mostly comprised of older students and those with significant experience. The San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra has toured and played for various audiences, and is considered one of the finest youth orchestras in the world. To learn more about the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra visit their website.

Berkeley Youth Orchestra

The Berkeley Youth Orchestra is an inclusive orchestra made of over 100 members. While the Berkeley Youth Orchestra is the organization's main orchestra, there are also smaller orchestras within the program. These include the Berkeley Youth Preparatory Orchestra, which allows younger musicians to grow before joining the main Berkeley Youth Orchestra, and the Berkeley Youth Chamber Orchestra. The Berkeley Youth Chamber Orchestra is a smaller group comprised of the most advanced musicians in the Berkeley Youth Orchestra, and membership is by invitation only. Rehearsals are on Saturdays for all three ensembles, but at various times. Read more on the Berkeley Youth Orchestra's website.

San Jose Youth Symphony

Another well known youth group in the Bay Area, the San Jose Youth Orchestra has twelve groups and ensembles, which provides opportunities for musicians of all levels. For orchestral groups specifically, the San Jose Youth Symphony houses three orchestras, as well as two ensembles for beginner and intermediate musicians. The premier orchestra is the Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Chamber Orchestra is also for advanced musicians. The Concert Orchestra is the intermediate orchestra, and the Prelude and Intermezzo ensembles are for beginning students. The Times and dates vary for rehearsals as there are so many different groups, but locations are generally in Los Gatos or Saratoga. To read more about what San Jose Youth Symphony offers, visit their website.