TODAY’S STUDENT, TOMORROW’S SUCCESS STORY
Alumni play a critical role in our youths’ experiences. Many of those who have graduated from our programs remain close, some geographically and some through communication. Many have been invited back to share their experiences and encourage our current student body through mentorship, one-time presentations, joining a performance, or tutoring. Our students love these connections and benefit from conversing with those who have been there and moved on successfully.
Alumni: Our Valued History
Youth Orchestra of Fresno alumni will forever be considered part of our family. If you had the benefit of a musical education with our organization, please stay in touch.
Alumni - Mark Your Calendar for 5/25/25!
Start making plans now! We promise it will be worth your while to return and perhaps even join the orchestra on stage!
The ¡ARRIBA! concert program for May 25, 2025, at the Saroyan Theatre will feature a brand new commissioned symphony celebrating our 75th anniversary, composed by award-winning composer Juan Pablo Contreras!
The program will also include:
Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture
Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique
And who knows what else will be included by the time May 25 rolls around!
But wait, there’s more! We have events planned for the entire year. Join us for an amazing Nutcracker-themed concert on December 8, 2024, featuring dancers! Additionally, there will be a partially staged opera, I Pagliacci, with our favorite tenor, Scott Piper, and our beloved soprano (and YOOF parent and board member), Maria Briggs, on February 23, 2025.
And then there’s the big event on May 25, 2025, to which you are all invited! Remember, you’re invited to join us all year long!
We continue to create new alumni each year, reluctantly saying goodbye to our seniors as they embark on their exciting and fulfilling lives. A remarkable number of them—typically around 50 percent or more—choose to pursue music careers. We love hearing from all of you, no matter what you are up to now, so keep those cards and letters coming! Additionally, we would appreciate updated photos, as some of the ones we have are starting to look a bit dated. Feel free to email new photos to fresyo@gmail.com. Thank you!
Ten years ago, we celebrated a remarkable 65th anniversary season, culminating in a fantastic 65th Anniversary Celebration Concert in May 2016. At least 40 alumni participated in a program featuring Mussorgsky's "Pictures at an Exhibition," Bach-Stokowski's "Toccata and Fugue in D minor," and Stravinsky's "Rite of Spring."
WE CAN’T WAIT TO SEE ALL OF YOU AND MORE IN MAY 2025!
**ALL ALUMNI** Please click below to complete our alumni update form! Even if you've submitted one before, we’d love to update your information!
We invite you to join the YOOF Alumni Facebook page and, oddly enough, we also have a YOOF Alumni Facebook GROUP. Feel free to make suggestions about what you'd like to see on these pages. You can email us at cmarchese@yoofresno.org.
Please send us your information and photos—we love to share updates on this page!
Youth Orchestras of Fresno Alumni
Justin Emerich
Trumpet
Mark Grisez
Trumpet
Jenna Gardner
Horn
Andres van der Paardt
Oboe
Hannah Hilarides
Trumpet
Matthew Carrington
Viola
Eric Gratz
Violin
Henry Woolf
Flute
Jeff Strong
Trumpet
Stephanie Vagim &
Devinda Gunasekara
(Back)
Violin
Justin Cummings
Bassoon
Paloma Griffin-Herbert
Violin
Henry Woolf
Cello
Michael Downing
Cymbal
Claudia Shiuh
Violin
Youth Orchestras of Fresno Through The Years
FAQs
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Coaching
Leading Master Classes
Playing or Helping at Concerts
Community Outreach
Social Media Posts and Support
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Leading Master Classes
Presenting the YOOF Opportunity at Local Schools
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Post Your Experience on Social Media
Send Your Story to Us for Publication on Meet Our Alums Webpage
Volunteer as a Mentor (background check required)
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We are always in need of coaches for different sections during rehearsals. Our coaches are hired on a paid-per-service basis. For the benefit of safety, all our coaches are obligated to go through background checks and mandatory training through the state.