About Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra

Founded in 1993, Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra (PSYO) has emerged as the premier training orchestra of Orange County. Under the artistic guidance of Pacific Symphony’s renowned music director Carl St.Clair, PSYO is quickly being recognized as one of the most outstanding youth orchestras in the country.

Representing over thirty-four schools in the SoCal region, PSYO offers performance opportunities to instrumentalists in grades 9-12 and is one of four youth ensembles offered by Pacific Symphony’s Youth Ensembles program. PSYO provides members with advanced and innovative artistic experiences and encourages musical and personal growth through the art of performance. Each season students enjoy regular interactions with Maestro Carl St.Clair, with guest artists and composers, and with the professional musicians of Pacific Symphony. Students also engage in an annual weekend retreat and are offered free and discounted tickets to Pacific Symphony performances throughout the season. PSYO also enjoys periodic international tours, including to Bulgaria in 2011, to China in 2016, and to the Czech Republic and Austria in 2023.

Each season PSYO presents a three concert series, generously sponsored by individual donors. Members also participate in an annual side-by-side performance with Pacific Symphony, where students rehearse and perform in concert with their professional counterparts. Additionally, PSYO’s Spring concert each season features the winner(s) of the annual concerto competition auditions, open to all current PSYO members. All performances take place at the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts.

Weekly rehearsals are held at UC Irvine between September and May each season and members are selected through annual auditions each Spring.