Youth Ensembles

Please email Youth Ensembles Manager Elena Sloman, esloman@srsymphony.org for more information.

Santa Rosa Symphony Youth Orchestra

For advanced players ages 12*–23

Sundays 4:30 pm – 7:30 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, Spain, and the Netherlands.

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 Jaco Wong.

The SRSYO has helped prepare life-long music lovers and 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 Concerto Competition

The Santa Rosa Symphony Youth Orchestra Concerto Competition is open to Santa Rosa Symphony Youth Orchestra members.

Application & Information

Please email Youth Ensembles Manager Elena Sloman, esloman@srsymphony.org for more information.

Auditions & Membership

Auditions & Membership

Tours

Tours

Listen on YouTube

Listen on YouTube

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 ages 12*-23

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*-18

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. 

AYO will be conducted by Matt Bringedahl starting in Fall 2026.

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 Aspirante Youth Orchestra sponsored by Robert Gleeson & Mike Sullivan 

Listen to Aspirante Youth Orchestra:

Debut Youth Orchestra

For beginning to intermediate players ages 9-15

Saturdays 9:00 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.

DYO will be conducted by Brandon Binder starting in Fall 2026

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

String Orchestra Workshop

For beginners ages 5-adult (no audition required)

Saturdays, September – May

9:00-9:40 am Continuing Violin/Viola

9:45-10:25 am Beginning Violin/Viola (age 9-Adult)

10:30-11:00 am Beginning Violin/Viola (age 5-8)

9:00-9:55 am Ensemble Class

10:05-10:50 am Beginning Cello/Bass

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 a few years, are encouraged to enroll.

String Orchestra Workshop is currently instructed by Jeanette Isenberg and Karen Zimmerman.

Please email SOW manager Jennifer Vaughn, SOW.JenV@gmail.com for more information.

Jazz Ensemble

For intermediate to advanced students of any instrument ages 10-18

Saturdays 8:30 am-10:00 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 will be directed by Matt Bringedahl starting in Fall 2026.

Limited opportunities for vocalists are offered on a case-by-case basis.

Please contact Jazz Ensemble staff at SRSYE.Jazz@gmail.com, 707-953-7643 for more information.