General Information

Oakland Symphony Youth Orchestra normally auditions prospective members in April. We will hear additional candidates in late August, and from time to time as needed. Please check our audition requirements and fill out an Audition Application Form.

Membership in the Youth Orchestra is open to highly qualified players of orchestral instruments from Bay Area schools. Generally, students are between the ages of 11 and 22 years, but exceptional younger students may also be admitted. Members are selected on the basis of an audition. Students are expected to be enrolled in and actively participate in their school’s music programs when available, and to receive private instrument instruction.

Learning professional responsibility is an important part of the Youth Orchestra’s program for musical excellence. Members are required to prepare, to arrive promptly, and to attend all rehearsals. Seating is generally rotational.

Benefits

Membership in Youth Orchestra includes:

At least four performance opportunities per year
Rehearsals led by conductor Omid Zoufonoun
Chamber Music Program, including ensembles of strings, winds, brass, and percussion
Sectional rehearsals and masterclasses coached by professional performing musicians
International tours every 3 years (OSYO is touring in the summer of the 2026-27 Season!)
Concerto competition in early December, the winners to perform with the Youth Orchestra in a future concert

Rehearsals

Rehearsals are on Sunday afternoons from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm at Amador Valley High School, Pleasanton.

Concerts

Concert Dress Rehearsals are on Saturday afternoons from 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm. Concert Sound Checks are on Sundays 11:00 am to 1:00 pm, followed by the concert at 2:00 pm.

Saturday Dress Rehearsal & Sunday Performances are located at Valley Center for the Performing Arts in Oakland.

2026-27 Season – Retreat, Concert & Tour Dates

Weekend Retreat – September 18 – 20, 2026
November 8, 2026 – Fall Concert (Full Orchestra)
February 7, 2027 – Chamber Concert Series, Concert #1
February 14, 2027 – Chamber Concert Series, Concert #2
May 9, 2027 – Spring Concert (Full Orchestra)
June 2027 – Tour Rehearsals (1 afternoon; 3 evening rehearsals)
July 2027 – International Tour (Exact Dates TBD)

Parents’ Obligations

Parents’ obligations include helping students fulfill their musical responsibilities to the Orchestra by encouraging at-home practice, 100% attendance, and promptness and courtesy at all times. Each Youth Orchestra family will be asked to volunteer for activities and donate 10 hours each year to the Oakland Symphony Youth Orchestra’s parent committees. Finally, parents are expected to participate in the Youth Orchestra fundraising activities.

Annual Cost

Tuition in full (or completed financial aid application) is due upon acceptance, and tuition is not refundable. Tuition fees include our mandatory retreat. Note that tuition covers only a portion of our operating budget.

International Tours

Oakland Symphony Youth Orchestra has opened the world to our young musicians by maintaining a commitment to cultural exchange through international concert tours every three years. These transformational journeys are more than just about music: they offer our students the opportunity to grow and connect, stretching themselves musically and personally. 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.

Financial Assistance

No qualified musician will be excluded because of financial need. Financial assistance is available in the form of outright scholarship grants, deferred payment plans, or fundraising opportunities. If you are a returning musician who has received assistance in the past, you must reapply.

Audition Information & Prerequisites

Membership in the Oakland Youth Orchestra is open to highly qualified players of orchestral instruments from Bay Area schools through the annual audition process.

Students are expected to receive private instruction on their orchestral instrument and participate in their school music program. Our goal is to work in partnership with local schools to provide students with additional high-level ensemble experience that builds upon the excellent work music teachers are doing in the classroom. Private lessons are an ongoing condition of their participation.

Learn more

Apply Now

To register for an audition, please complete the Audition Application. There is a non-refundable $35 application fee. Candidates auditioning on multiple instruments must complete a new audition application for each instrument and pay the non-refundable fee. Payments are processed through PayPal.

Note: While this application form allows users to save and return to the form within 30 days, entries are not stored in the system until the application is paid.

Financial circumstances should not be a barrier to joining OSYO. We offer need-based aid for all program costs, including audition fee waivers. To request a free application or discuss financial assistance, please contact our office directly.