Local Music Groups
*NOTE: Although the deadline to audition for many of these groups has already passed, most groups usually have another audition round for the spring season*
Local Wind Groups:
Diablo Wind Symphony:
Walnut Creek Concert Band:
"Established in 1996, the Diablo Wind Symphony serves 60 to 80 local students, ages 14–22, offering consistent instrumentation conducive to performing major wind and percussion compositions. Designed as a cooperative interaction with school music programs, the DWS offers a positive learning environment, master classes with professional clinicians, and an annual concert season with internationally renowned soloists."
Local Youth Orchestras:
Oakland Symphony Youth Orchestra:
Young People's Symphony Orchestra:
Berkeley Youth Orchestra:
San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra:
Marin Symphony Youth Orchestra:
"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."
"California's oldest youth orchestra, founded in 1936. Guiding young musicians to achieve excellence within an orchestral setting. We encourage young people to become exemplary musicians, and young musicians to become exemplary people.
"BYO is both a welcoming, nurturing community and a professionally-run, full symphony orchestra. We walk musicians new to the experience through a professional process. They grow as both musicians and young people, mastering professional repertoire while receiving sectional coaching. We offer preparatory work for the youngest (BYPO) and an advanced chamber orchestra (BYCO) with Concerto performance opportunity for the most skilled. Our mid-season concert features all musicians in chamber ensembles coached by our Artists in Residence."
"Over the past 38 years, the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra (SFSYO) has earned a reputation as one of the finest youth ensembles in the world. Founded in 1981 to provide pre-professional training to the Bay Area’s most gifted young musicians at no cost, the orchestra has toured Europe and Asia to rave reviews, winning the prestigious City of Vienna Prize at the International Youth and Music Festival in 1986 and performing to packed houses in the great halls of Europe, from Berlin’s Philharmonie to Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw to the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg. It has played for Queen Elizabeth II of England and been featured on BBC radio...."
"Since 1954, the Marin Symphony Youth Orchestra, currently under the direction of Ann Krinitsky, has provided musicians ages 13-18 with the opportunity to participate in a rich and rewarding orchestral community. The September-to-May orchestral season offers a range of performances and experiences. The orchestra is composed of approximately 80 auditioned high school and middle school musicians from Marin, Sonoma, and San Francisco. Recent performances of standard orchestral repertoire include: Rossini’s Overture to The Barber of Seville, Smetana’s The Moldau, Brahms’ Hungarian Dances No.’s 1, 5, & 6, Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade, and Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture in a special side-by-side performance with the Marin Symphony Orchestra."
All-State Groups:
CBDA (California Band Directors Association) Honor Groups (includes jazz)
CODA (California Orchestra Directors Association) Honor Groups