3 ORCHESTRAS – 1 MISSION

Youth Orchestras of Fresno is actually a family of musical groupings differentiated primarily by age and level of experience. Our three orchestras all share the same vision of encouraging young people to encounter the art of music on a personal level.

  • Youth Chamber Orchestra (YCO)

    Youth Chamber Orchestra (YCO)

    If you’re just beginning, this is the orchestra for you. YCO members are recommended to have at least one year of private lessons. For those who have less experience (or none at all), there are still possibilities to work with our musical leadership team and find your place.

    YCO students primarily focus on strings. During auditions, students are required to play one scale of their choice and perform a piece that showcases their abilities. If you are a beginner and wish to join the orchestra, please get in touch with us, and we will help you get started.

  • YCO In Concert

    Youth Symphony Orchestra (YSO)

    Primarily comprised of late elementary and middle school students, YSO is a full symphonic ensemble that performs challenging orchestral pieces. Recommended to have two or more years of playing experience, these musicians include strings (violin, viola, cello, bass, harp) as well as woodwinds (flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon), brass (French horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba) and percussion.

    YSO students audition by playing one scale of their choice and one piece that demonstrates their ability. If you’re a younger wind or brass player with less-than-recommended experience but unable to be in the YCO, we strongly encourage you to audition.

  • Youth Philharmonic Orchestra (YPO)

    Performing at least three concerts a season, YPO is the premiere ensemble for our most advanced musicians. In the past, this full orchestra has performed such complex pieces as Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite, Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet, and Debussy’s La Mer, as well as several Shostakovich symphonies, Mahler Symphony No. 1, and Copland’s El Salon Mexico.

    Primarily populated with high school students, many of whom have moved up from our other two orchestras over time, YPO players audition with one scale of their choice and one or two pieces with contrasting movements or styles to demonstrate their playing ability.

Audition Information

Our History

  • 1950

    The Fresno Youth Symphony Orchestra begins as an all-city string ensemble founded by Malcolm Davison.

  • 1953

    Winds and percussion are added, the Fresno Kiwanis Club steps in, and the group becomes the Kiwanis Youth Orchestra. Davison continues as conductor.

  • 1957

    The Fresno Philharmonic replaces Kiwanis as sponsor and renames the group. It’s now the Fresno Junior Philharmonic Orchestra.

  • 1959

    Paul Vermel arrives as director of the Fresno Philharmonic and takes on the Junior Philharmonic as well.

  • 1966

    Vermel moves on. Thomas Griswold and Guy Taylor, in succession, take over the Fresno Philharmonic and the Junior Phil. A Junior Symphony is added, conducted by Kim Contor, who is succeeded by John Morrice.

  • 1984

    Eric R. Gratz takes over as Education Director for the Fresno Philharmonic. Eric and Rosalind Gratz found the Little Symphony for younger players.

  • 1985

    Under Gary Deeter, the Fresno Junior Philharmonic participates in the Annual Vienna International Youth and Music Festival in Austria. A news crew from Channel 30 accompanies the group of about 70 musicians.

  • 1987

    The group’s name is changed. It is now the Fresno Youth Philharmonic. Among the additional conductors of the Junior and Little Symphonies during these years are Rosalind Gratz, Heidi Franklin, Archie Rader, and Jeffrey Sandersier.

  • 1989

    The Fresno Youth Philharmonic tours Europe, starting in sister city Muenster. Another international tour is undertaken in 1993.

  • 1995

    The Fresno Philharmonic cuts ties to the Youth Philharmonic. Eric Gratz, Susan Gratz, and a group of parents volunteers’ step in and establish the independent nonprofit Youth Orchestras of Fresno. International tours continue every four years.

  • 2007

    Eric and Susan Gratz move to Ohio. Thomas Loewenheim, a professor of cello and conductor of orchestras at CSU Fresno, is hired as Music Director.

  • 2010

    The Youth Philharmonic Orchestra performs Shostakovich Symphony No. 12 at Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles.

  • 2012

    YOOF hosts the Fresno International Youth Orchestra (FiYO) Festival. 2013 First FOOSA Festival, with Scott Piper and Laura Pedersen: opera!

  • 2014

    FOOSA String Edition

  • 2015

    FOOSA Full Orchestra

  • 2016

    Celebrating the orchestras’ 65th Anniversary with a concert on May 29, 2016—major sponsorship from Valley Kiwanis Clubs. FOOSA Philharmonic performs Mahler 2 with chorus at Disney Hall.

  • 2017

    YOOF collaborates with the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s YOLA in October and with the Santa Rosa Symphony Youth Orchestra in November. Sphinx solo competition winner Maria Sanderson, guitarist Daniel Bolshoy, and superstar violinist Vadim Gluzman are our soloists, and we commission Coming Home from four Fresno State composers. FOOSA offers Mahler Six and Don Juan.

  • 2018

    Violinist Erika Raum and pianist Steven Vanhauwaert are our soloists, 1812 Overture features audience members popping thousands of blown-up bags, and FOOSA features cellist Lynn Harrell along with an unexpected symphony by Alfredo Casella; two students from Access Violins attend LA Phil’s Take a Stand Festival in LA

  • 2024

    Celebrating the orchestras’ 75th Anniversary...

Our Conductors Through The Years.

1950-2016

Malcolm Davison
Thomas Griswold
Paul Vermel
Guy Taylor
Kim Contor
John Morrice
Gary Deeter
Eric Gratz
Jeff Sandersier
Heidi Franklin
Rosalind Gratz
Archie Rader
Kate McLoughlin
David Shearen
Thomas Loewenheim
Limor Toren-Immerman
Adam Elmore