Get to Know Pacific Symphony Youth Ensembles

Pacific Symphony Youth Ensembles (PSYE) is one of the largest pre-professional musical training programs in the nation, nurturing and inspiring young musicians in grades 6 through 12. PSYE provides members with high-caliber and innovative artistic experiences, fostering musical development, personal growth, and lifelong learning through the art of classical performance.

The PSYE program is comprised of four performing ensembles (Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra, Pacific Symphony Youth Wind Ensemble, Pacific Symphony Santiago Strings and Pacific Symphony Youth Concert Band), all of which are united by the artistic vision of Pacific Symphony Music Director Carl St.Clair. Each ensemble focuses on advancing student musicianship in a nurturing environment through professional repertoire and unique performance experiences. Students enjoy clinics with Maestro St.Clair, regular coaching sessions with Pacific Symphony professional musicians, and interactions with world-renowned guest artists such as Yo-Yo Ma, Cho-Liang Lin, Narong Prangcharoen, Derrick Skye, Glenn Dicterow, and many more.

Pacific Symphony Youth Ensembles primarily perform in the world-renowned Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall in Costa Mesa, CA, as well as in various additional venues across the region. These warmly received, and well attended performances are free to the public and touch the lives of thousands of Southern California residents each season.

Membership in PSYE is determined by annual auditions for all new and returning members and are held each spring, attracting on average between 600 to 650 candidates each season. The 300-plus students who are current members of the Youth Ensembles program represent over 75 school music programs in and around Orange County. Most if not all of PSYE’s graduates pursue opportunities in higher education, attending such notable institutions as The Juilliard School, Johns Hopkins University/Peabody Institute, Harvard University, Brown University, Stanford University, UCLA, University of Michigan and many more.

You can hear each of these gifted ensembles this month. Admission is free, but tickets are required. Seating is general admission. Here is their performance schedule.

Pacific Symphony Santiago Strings
Nov. 19 @ 1 p.m. “Sonic Narratives”
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Pacific Symphony Youth Concert Band
Nov. 19 @ 6 p.m. “Seeing Sounds, Hearing Colors”
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Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra
Nov. 20 at 7 p.m. “Indivisible”
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Pacific Symphony Youth Wind Ensemble
Nov. 21 at 7 p.m. “Reaching Forward, Looking Back”
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Call Pacific Symphony’s Box Office for more information at (714) 755-5799 or visit www.pacificsymphony.org.

The feature image features all four music directors for Pacific Symphony Youth Ensembles (L-R): Dr. Johanna Gamboa-Kroesen (Pacific Symphony Santiago Strings), Angela Woo (Pacific Symphony Youth Concert Band), Dr. Gregory X. Whitmore (Pacific Symphony Youth Wind Ensemble), and Dr. Jacob Sustaita (Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra).