Omid Zoufonoun, Youth Orchestra Director
Oakland Symphony Youth Orchestra is recognized as an outstanding Bay Area music program receiving numerous awards from the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers. The Youth Orchestra presents several classical and youth outreach concerts each season.
Consisting of nearly 90 talented music students (aged 11 to 22 years) from 46 schools and more than 30 cities in the San Francisco Bay Area, the Youth Orchestra is open by audition to all qualified young people from Bay Area schools. No musician is excluded for reasons of financial need.
Oakland Symphony Youth Orchestra (OSYO)
The Oakland Symphony Youth Orchestra is our flagship ensemble, providing a symphonic experience for the region’s most advanced young musicians. As a full symphony including strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion, OSYO performs masterworks of the professional repertoire at the highest level.
Oakland Symphony Youth Orchestra maintains a commitment to cultural exchange through international tours every three years. Touring destinations have included many countries in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Prior tours have also given students the opportunity to visit and perform in the Caribbean Islands, Costa Rica, Mexico, Cuba, Australia, and New Zealand.
OSYO String Orchestra (Inaugural Season)
The OSYO String Orchestra serves as a vital “bridge” ensemble, specifically designed to prepare intermediate- and advanced-intermediate string players for the rigors of the flagship orchestra. In this collaborative environment, musicians focus on building the technical foundations necessary for advancement, including consistency in higher positions, refined vibrato, and a maturing ensemble tone. As a foundational training ground, students typically spend one to three years in this ensemble to ensure they have the confidence and skill set required for the flagship orchestra. We are thrilled to launch this inaugural program to support the long-term growth and success of our dedicated string players.
Auditions
Membership in the Oakland Symphony Youth Orchestra is open to highly qualified players of orchestral instruments from Bay Area schools through the annual audition process.
The Audition Application for the 2026-27 Season is now open! Auditions are open to musicians aged 22 or younger who are prepared to make a serious commitment to challenging repertoire and to our full schedule of rehearsals, concerts, and tours.
