Youth Orchestras of Fresno
Music is life. Live big! Start young.
Youth Orchestras of Fresno
Music is life. Live big! Start young.
Join us for our next concert:
cellist Brinton Smith performs with the YPO at Cello|Fresno, October 2023
About the orchestra
The Youth Orchestras of Fresno have been a Central Valley institution since 1950, when there was a single ensemble known as the Kiwanis Youth Orchestra.
Today our three orchestras accommodate young musicians of all levels, kindergarten through college. The orchestras currently serve 260 young players from seven Central Valley counties (Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Tulare) representing a full complement of socio-economic backgrounds and ethnicities. Each summer we welcome 160 students from around the Valley and around the world to our FOOSA Festival/Fresno Summer Orchestra Academy. Our dynamic Music Director is Dr. Thomas Loewenheim, cellist and professor at Fresno State, who is known for his ability to unite through musical vision.
GIVING OPPORTUNITY
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Auditions & Visits
Auditions are held in late August/early September each year. Placement is made at that time. Midyear auditions (placement as needed) are held in January. Interested young musicians are welcome to sit in, with their instruments, at our Sunday rehearsals.
SponsorsHIPS
& Donations
There are endless great ways to support our work in the community! Make direct donations, attend concerts, support specific programs (our Accent on Access Violin Program, our Lesson Scholarship Program), buy program ads, sponsor a concert...
FOOSA
FOOSA
FOOSA offers both a professional-level orchestral experience with its FOOSA Philharmonic program, designed for serious musicians of college and graduate-school age (younger musicians are also accepted), and a pre-college level program, FOOSA Half-Day. Both programs use the talents of our exceptional faculty members and benefit from the intense schedule of rehearsals, lessons, and performances.
ALUMS
ALUMS
ARE YOU AN ALUM?
Alumni of the Youth Orchestras of Fresno (aka Kiwanis Youth Orchestra, Fresno Junior Philharmonic, Fresno Youth Philharmonic, Junior Phil, etc.): please complete an ALUMNI UPDATE FORM!
We yearn to hear from you!