About the Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra (PSYO)

Focusing on music education, the Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra (PSYO) program serves the community by providing performance opportunities to young instrumentalists from throughout Orange County. The Youth Orchestra is one of the primary education programs of the Pacific Symphony. It is one of three Youth Ensembles programs offered by the Pacific Symphony. All members are required to participate in their school music programs. Led by new Music Director Maxim Eshkenazy (who also serves as the Assistant Conductor of the Pacific Symphony) the program also benefits from the artistic vision of Pacific Symphony Music Director Carl St.Clair, who acts as the artistic advisor for all activities. Weekly Sunday afternoon rehearsals are held in the Music Department of the University of California, Irvine. The 2009-10 season Youth Orchestra represents over 45 different schools from all across Orange County and beyond, and consists of 107 students who were selected through annual auditions held in the late spring.

The Youth Orchestra presents a popular three concert subscription series of performances at the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall in addition to other community concerts. Members of the orchestra benefit from coaching sessions with professional musicians of the Pacific Symphony as well as rehearsing and performing 'side-by-side' with their professional colleagues on a Family Musical Mornings Series concert each season. In addition, students receive free tickets to Pacific Symphony concerts and exclusive access to Pacific Symphony rehearsals together with opportunities to meet guest artists.

Click here for tickets and concert information.

Highlights

Having its debut season in 1993, the Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra has emerged as the premier training orchestra of Orange County. Under the artistic direction and guidance of the Pacific Symphony's renowned Music Director, Carl St.Clair, the Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra is quickly being recognized as one of the most outstanding youth orchestras in our country. This tradition of excellence encompasses a variety of elements:

• In-depth study of challenging orchestral repertoire
• Direction by a professional conductor
• Coaching by Carl St.Clair
• Coaching by Pacific Symphony musicians
• Performances in the world renowned Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall
• Weekend retreat at Palomar Retreat Center in San Diego, CA
• Exposure to nationally recognized soloists
• Annual Concerto Competition
• Workshops and master classes
• Chamber ensemble training and performance opportunities
• Ticket vouchers to Pacific Symphony concerts

PSYO members participate in an innovative and unique training program designed to develop talents and prepare young, advanced musicians for the multi-faceted careers of tomorrow

History

The PSYO was formed in 1993. Conductors have included Edward Cumming (1993-1996) currently Music Director of the Hartford (Connecticut) Symphony Orchestra, Elizabeth Stoyanovich (1996-1999) currently Music Director of the Bremerton Symphony Association (Washington) and The Butte Symphony Association (Montana), Mark Mandarano (1999-2002) currently Principal Guest Conductor of the Moscow Chamber Orchestra, and Michael Hall (2002-2008) currently serving as Music Director of the South West Florida Symphony Orchestra. Maxim Eshkenazy is currently in his second year as Music Director.

In November 2002, the Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra moved its concerts from a local high school auditorium into the Irvine Barclay Theatre. By performing in a professional venue, the artistic standard of the orchestra began to grow. The 2003-2004 season saw the establishment of the PSYO Board of Directors, led then by Chair Hans Imhof, with Steven Payne joining the Pacific Symphony education department in September 2003 as the Youth Orchestra's first full-time Executive Director. Rehearsals were moved to the facilities at the University of California, Irvine in September 2005. In 2006, the PSYO moved their performances into the world-renowned Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. In 2007 the PSYO hired its first full-time Manager, Melissa Craig, in collaboration with the full-time Executive Director. Payne departed Pacific Symphony in 2007 and now serves as Executive Director of the Youth Orchestras of San Antonio in San Antonio, Texas.

The future of the Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra is bright and promises to bring a stronger connection with the community as it becomes the premier youth orchestra in Southern California.

Staff