Ensembles

In Percussion Ensemble, students have the unique opportunity to focus on instrument-specific techniques and repertoire in addition to their full ensemble experience (YCO or RSYO). Students in Percussion Ensemble learn all orchestral percussion instruments, cultivating both leadership and teamwork.

The Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra (RSYO) offers a pre-college orchestra experience for the serious student musician. RSYO performs three concerts a year, and students are eligible to participate in the RSYO Concerto Competition for the opportunity to be a featured soloist in the ensemble. In RSYO, students hold themselves to a high level of discipline, preparation, musicianship, and leadership.

Youth Concert Orchestra (YCO) is a full-orchestra experience (the first of its kind for many students in the group). Players generally move into YCO with experience playing in other string orchestras or wind ensembles.

Camerata Strings is the intermediate-level string ensemble of the Youth Orchestra Program. To gain entrance into Camerata, students must pass an audition, the first such experience for many students. In this ensemble, students learn proper rehearsal etiquette, how to make music as an ensemble, and take seating auditions regularly.

String Sinfonietta is the entry-level string ensemble of the Youth Orchestra Program. Unlike the other ensembles in the YOP, there is no audition requirement for Sinfonietta.