Youth Orchestras

The Reno Phil hosts four Youth Orchestras, which together serve over 230 talented student musicians. Members benefit from full orchestral rehearsals, sectional coaching from professional musicians, and high-level guest conductors. The Reno Phil also sponsors tuition scholarships, a concerto competition with cash prizes for winners in each of five divisions, senior scholarships, and a summer camp scholarship.

YOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

  • Open to students age 12 to grade 12

  • Designed for advanced students

  • Open to violin, viola, cello, bass, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba, & percussion students.

  • Rehearsals at McKinley Arts & Culture Center, Mondays 5:30-8:00pm

  • Directed by Dr. Jason Altieri

The Youth Symphony Orchestra (YSO) was founded in 1995 to give a high-level orchestral experience to middle and high school students from northern Nevada and northern California.  Since this time, the YSO has become the region’s premier youth orchestra, comprised of exceptional musicians who perform advanced symphonic repertoire.

Many YSO members have gone on to perform with the Reno Philharmonic and other professional orchestras. The YSO is conducted by Dr. Jason Altieri who is also the Assistant Conductor of the Reno Philharmonic and Director of Orchestras at the University of Nevada, Reno.

Youth Concert Orchestra

  • Open to students age 12 through grade 12

  • Designed for upper intermediate students

  • Open to violin, viola, cello, bass, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba, & percussion students

  • Rehearsals at Damonte Ranch High School, Mondays 5:00-7:00pm

  • Directed by Dustin Budish

In 1999 a second Youth Orchestra group was added—the Youth Concert Orchestra (YCO), a preparatory ensemble geared toward developing technical and performance skills. While YCO members often work toward becoming members of the YSO, the Youth Concert Orchestra has itself become an esteemed performing ensemble.

The YCO is conducted by Dustin Budish, who is also the principal violist in the Reno Phil and a Reno Phil Youth Orchestra alum.

YOUTH STRINGS SYMPHONIA

• Open to students 4th-8th grade

• Designed for beginning –intermediate students

• Open to violin, viola, cello & bass students

• Rehearsals at Billinghurst Middle School, Mondays 5:45–7:00pm

• Directed by Laurentiu Norocel

In 2009 the Reno Philharmonic Association created a third strings-only orchestra, the Youth Strings Symphonia (YSS). The YSS was established to serve the abundance of young string players in grades 4-8. In its first season the YSS consisted of 35 members, grew to over 60 in the second season, and now has annual membership of around 75 players. The Youth Strings Symphonia is conducted by Laurentiu Norocel.

YOUTH STRINGS ENSEMBLE

  • Open to students 2nd grade and up

  • Designed for beginning students

  • Open to violin, viola, cello & bass students

  • Rehearsals at O’Brien Middle School, Mondays 4:00-5:00pm

  • Directed by Izaak Wierman

Launched in 2018, the Youth String Ensemble (YSE) is a strings-only orchestra serving students grades 2 and up. Under the direction of Izaak Wierman, the YSE rehearses weekly at O’Brien Middle School, and gives string students who begin private lessons from a young age or are a member of the Reno Phil Association Kids (RPAK) program an opportunity to play in an ensemble from an early age. This ensemble is ideal for students in middle school or elementary school who are eager to explore additional playing opportunities in a group setting. 


Thanks to generous community support, financial aid is available for all Reno Phil Youth Orchestras. 

Contact education@renophil.com for more information.