Below is a list of local youth orchestras. If I’ve left some out feel free to contact me at pattyoboe [at] me [dot] com with the name and the URL and I might add it in.
I do have advice for choosing a youth orchestra. I’ve written about it before, and here is just a quick list in case you are interested:
- Check to see how many groups are offered to be sure there’s an appropriate one for your level of playing.
- Find out what day the orchestra(s) rehearse before you bother paying the audition fee; if you can’t attend the rehearsals why bother with the group?
- If you have the opportunity, go listen to the orchestra(s)! Check to see if they are actually using what we call “ringers” (older players, sometimes even professionals and, in one case I saw, a professional musician who had school-aged children).
**Do not believe the websites and the ages give there; I know for a fact that two of the orchestras are using older players all of the time! (And no, I won’t tell you which ones here.)
Update
I’ve been receiving requests from people regarding which orchestra to join. I highly recommend you speak with your private teacher about this. If you don’t have a private teacher … get one! I will not make recommendations to students other than my own.
PLEASE NOTE
If a youth orchestra conductor publicly humiliates a student I would highly recommend you find another orchestra. If the youth orchestra conductor sets an example that isn’t honorable and admirable I would highly recommend you find another orchestra. Having a student experience a conductor who both humiliated him and set a horrible example I am fed up and will be happy to warn you of certain people that should never have been with youth in the first place. (And I won’t list orchestras if I know the conductor to be this sort of person.)
*List updated 01.09.2022*
CALIFORNIA PHILHARMONIC YOUTH ORCHESTRA (TWO ORCHESTRAS AND A BRASS ACAADEMY)
FREMONT YOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
GOLDEN STATE YOUTH ORCHESTRA(formerly El Camino Youth Symphony)
MARIN SYMPHONY YOUTH ORCHESTRA
PALO ALTO CHAMBER ORCHESTRA (STRINGS ONLY)
SAN JOSE YOUTH CHAMBER ORCHESTRA (STRINGS ONLY)
SOLANO YOUTH CHAMBER ORCHESTRA (STRINGS ONLY)
SANTA ROSA SYMPHONY YOUTH SYMPHONY
YOUNG PEOPLE’S SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
