PSYE General Information

The Program

Pacific Symphony Youth Ensembles (PSYE) provides a nurturing and creative environment, within which young musicians can grow both musically and personally through the art of performance. Our ensembles include: Pacific Symphony Santiago Strings, Pacific Symphony Youth Wind Ensemble, Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra. Membership in each ensemble is determined by annual auditions.

The Ensembles

Pacific Symphony Santiago Strings (PSSS): this ensemble is a string orchestra for string musicians in grades 6 through 9. Instruments include violin, viola, cello and double bass.

Pacific Symphony Youth Concert Band (PSYCB): this ensemble is a concert band for woodwind, brass, and percussion musicians in grades 6 through 9. Instruments include flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, saxophone, french horn, trumpet, trombone, euphonium, tuba, percussion, piano, and double bass.

Pacific Symphony Youth Wind Ensemble (PSYWE): this ensemble is a Wind Symphony for woodwind, brass and percussion musicians in grades 9 through 12. Instruments include flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, saxophone, french horn, trumpet, trombones, euphonium, tuba, percussion, harp, piano and double bass.

Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra (PSYO): this ensemble is a full symphony orchestra for string, woodwind, brass and percussion musicians in grades 9 through 12. Instruments include flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, french horn, trumpet, trombones, tuba, percussion, harp, piano, violin, viola, cello and double bass.

Rehearsals

Each ensemble rehearses weekly during the months of August through May. Below is our rehearsal schedule for each group.  All four ensembles rehearse at the University of California, Irvine.

Santiago Strings: Sunday afternoons, 5-7 p.m.

Youth Concert Band: Beginning in the fall of 2022, the Youth Concert Band will rehearse Sunday evenings from 5-7 p.m.

Youth Wind Ensemble & Youth Orchestra: Sunday afternoons, 1-4 p.m.

Tuition and Financial Assistance

Membership in each ensemble requires tuition. PSYE offers partial financial aid for those who demonstrate the need for such aid. Tuition covers all rehearsals, events, annual retreat, 2 complimentary concert tickets to each ensemble performance throughout the season, ensemble t-shirt and complimentary tickets to Symphony performances as they become available throughout the season.

Santiago Strings and Youth Concert Band: $950

Youth Orchestra & Youth Wind Ensemble: $1,100

Limited financial aid is available to those who demonstrate the need for assistance.

Program Requirements

Students must meet a set of requirements in order to audition. You may find a list of requirements on our audition information and application check list document (click on "auditions" to the right of your screen)! This will help new interested students determine whether they are eligible to audition for one or more of our three ensembles and will also give you all necessary information about how to apply and what to prepare for an audition.