New York Youth Symphony

The New York Youth Symphony is the most awarded youth program of its kind in the nation, recognized for its innovative, tuition-free educational programs for talented young musicians. Founded in 1963 as an orchestra to showcase the metropolitan area’s most gifted musicians ages 12-22, its activities have since grown to encompass programs in chamber music, conducting, composition, and jazz, with performances at world class venues including Carnegie Hall and Jazz at Lincoln Center. Through its commissioning program, First Music, the NYYS has commissioned over 100 works from young composers since 1984.

The careers of world-renowned conductors, musicians, and composers have been assisted by their early experiences with the New York Youth Symphony. Our former music directors and program alumni include alumni include Leonard Slatkin (Detroit Symphony Orchestra), Myung-Whun Chung (Seoul Philharmonic), David Alan Miller (Albany Symphony Orchestra), Miguel Harth-Bedoya (Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra), Marin Alsop (Baltimore Symphony Orchestra), Gary Levinson (Dallas Symphony), Michael Tiscione (Atlanta Symphony), Larry Dutton (Emerson Quartet), Kenneth Mirkin (New York Philharmonic), Joel Smirnoff (Juilliard String Quartet), and Pedro Diaz (Metropolitan Opera Orchestra), among many others.

Mission

To educate and inspire young musicians through exceptional ensemble training and performance opportunities.

Core Values

• We value the excellence of our teaching and mentoring.
• We encourage personal development, creativity, self-discipline, and working well with others.
• No one is to be excluded on the basis of ability to pay.
• We aspire to a culture of fairness and mutual respect.
• We expect a strong commitment from all members of the NYYS community –musicians, teachers, staff, and Trustees.
• We value the special relationship between our musicians and their audiences.
• We strive to be an inclusive organization reflecting the diversity of, and actively reaching out to, the greater New York metropolitan community.
• We value performances in prominent venues.