Pacific Symphony Youth Ensembles (PSYE)...
Pacific Symphony Youth Ensembles (PSYE) is one of the largest pre-professional musical training programs in the nation, nurturing and inspiring young musicians in grades 6 through 12. PSYE provides members with advanced and innovative artistic experiences, fostering musical development, personal growth and lifelong learning through the art of classical performance.
The PSYE program is comprised of four performing ensembles (Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra, Pacific Symphony Youth Wind Ensemble, Pacific Symphony Santiago Strings and Pacific Symphony Youth Concert Band), all of which are united by the artistic vision of Pacific Symphony Music Director Carl St.Clair. Each ensemble focuses on advancing student musicianship in a nurturing environment through professional repertoire and unique performance experiences. Students enjoy clinics with Maestro St.Clair, regular coaching sessions with Pacific Symphony professional musicians, and interactions with world-renowned guest artists such as Yo-Yo Ma, Cho-Liang Lin, Narong Prangcharoen, Derrick Skye, Glenn Dicterow and many more.
Pacific Symphony Youth Wind Ensemble, Dr. Gregory X. Whitmore, conductor, performing Paul Basler's Carnival (July 2017)
Pacific Symphony Youth Ensemble Musicians
Pacific Symphony Youth Ensembles primarily perform in the world-renowned Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall in Costa Mesa, CA, as well as in various additional venues across the region. These warmly received, and well attended performances are free to the public and touch the lives of thousands of Southern California residents each season.
Membership in PSYE is determined by annual auditions for all new and returning members and are held each spring, attracting on average over 650 candidates each season. The 320 students who are current members of the Youth Ensembles program represent over 75 school music programs in and around Orange County. Most if not all of PSYE’s graduates pursue opportunities in higher education, attending such notable institutions as Juilliard, Johns Hopkins University/Peabody Institute, UCLA, University of Michigan, Stanford, Yale, Brown, Vanderbilt, Rice, and many more.
The Ensembles
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Pacific Symphony Santiago Strings is led by Music Director Dr. Johanna Gamboa-Kroesen and provides string musicians in grades 6 through 9 with quality string training and performance instruction.
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Pacific Symphony Youth Concert Band is led by Music Director Angela Woo and provides woodwind, brass, and percussion musicians in grades 6 through 9 with intensive concert band training and performance development.
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Pacific Symphony Youth Wind Ensemble is led by Music Director Dr. Gregory X. Whitmore and provides wind and percussion musicians in grades 9 through 12 the opportunity to refine their skills in an innovative, and technically advanced wind symphony environment.
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Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra is led by Music Director and Pacific Symphony Assistant Conductor Dr. Jacob Sustaita and provides 100+ string, wind and percussion musicians in grades 9 through 12 with intense orchestral training.
For more information about PSYE, please contact our office at psye@pacificsymphony.org.