About Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra

Founded in 1993, Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra (PSYO) has emerged as one of the leading pre-professional training orchestras in the nation. Led by Pola Benke, Pacific Symphony Assistant Conductor and PSYO Music Director, the ensemble provides its members with advanced artistic and technical training that cultivates musical excellence, personal growth, and lifelong engagement with the art of orchestral performance.

Under the creative leadership of Alexander Shelley, Pacific Symphony’s Artistic and Music Director Designate, PSYO continues to build upon the rich legacy established by Music Director Laureate Carl St.Clair. Together, their vision reflects a shared commitment to inspiring the next generation of artists and audiences.

Representing over 26 schools in the Southern California region, PSYO provides members with in-depth exposure to the traditional orchestral canon, as well as engagement with exciting new works and living composers. PSYO serves exceptional young instrumentalists in grades 9-12 and is one of four youth ensembles offered by Pacific Symphony’s Youth Ensembles program.

PSYO members benefit from the mentorship of Maestros Shelley and St.Clair, receive regular coaching from Pacific Symphony musicians, perform at the magnificent Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall in Costa Mesa, CA, and enjoy periodic touring opportunities, including tours to Bulgaria in 2011, to China in 2016, and to the Czech Republic and Austria in 2023.

Membership in the Pacific Symphony Youth Ensembles program is determined through annual auditions held each spring, drawing more than 700 applicants each year. Graduates of the program go on to study at leading institutions including Juilliard, Johns Hopkins University/Peabody Institute, UCLA, University of Michigan, Stanford, USC, Brown, Vanderbilt, Yale, and many more.