Youth Orchestra Program

Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra

The Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra (RSYO) offers a pre-college orchestra experience for the serious student musician.

2026-2027 Full Season Tuition: $725

Audition Info

Not sure which ensemble to visit? Learn more about the ensembles here. Or feel free to Email us at education@richmondsymphony.com.

About Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra

Advanced-Level Full Orchestra
Age Requirement: Rising 7th grade or higher
Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Horn, Trumpet, Trombone, Tuba, Percussion, Harp
Violin, Viola, Cello, & Bass

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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.

Interested in auditioning for the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra Program? Click here to sign up for an audition.

Audition Requirements

YOP Audition FAQs

When will I receive my in-person audition time?

What ensemble should I audition for?

Our youth orchestra ensembles are separated by skill level, not by age or grade, following the order below:

String Sinfonietta (no audition required)
Camerata Strings
Youth Concert Orchestra (YCO): rising 5th grade or higher
Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra (RSYO): rising 7th grade or higher

Percussion Ensemble requires an audition with the director, Dr. Justin Alexander, who will also place students into either YCO or RSYO.

Please note that YCO and RSYO require age minimums, as detailed above.

Each ensemble requires different audition guidelines, which can be found under each ensemble’s page. We recommend that you review these guidelines with their school music teacher or private instructor in order to select the appropriate level.

String Sinfonietta, our entry level ensemble, does not require an audition.

Any additional questions about recommended ensemble levels can be directed to the YOP team at education@richmondsymphony.com.

What needs to be prepared for a YOP audition?

Are YOP auditions blind?

What should I wear to a YOP audition?

What skill level should prepared selections be for string auditions?

We do not require Suzuki specific repertoire, but we do recommend students use the following Suzuki book levels as guidelines for their Prepared Selections:

Camerata Strings: Suzuki Book levels 2–4
Youth Concert Orchestra: Suzuki book levels 4–5+
Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra: Suzuki book levels 6+

For YCO and RSYO auditions, please visit each ensemble’s guidelines for further suggested instrument-specific repertoire to help guide your selections.

What skill level should prepared selections be for wind/brass/percussion auditions?

We do not require students to participate in regional auditions outside of the youth orchestra program, but we do recommend students use the following guidelines for their prepared selections:

YCO: SRO audition etudes
RSYO: All-Virginia audition etudes

For YCO and RSYO wind and brass auditions, please visit each ensemble’s guidelines for further suggested instrument-specific repertoire to help guide your selections.

For percussion auditions, please contact Dr. Justin Alexander, Percussion Ensemble director (jlaexander@vcu.edu) for specific repertoire questions.

What are the components of a YOP audition?

What should I bring to Audition Day?

When will I receive results?

What happens if I am not accepted into the ensemble of my choice?

Our judges will work to place students in the ensemble that best fits their current skill set. Students who do not get accepted to their chosen ensemble may be offered a spot in another ensemble, and/or be placed on a waiting list.

Students on a waiting list will be notified of any changes before the start of the season if a spot in an ensemble opens up. Students must be enrolled in the ensemble they were placed in order to be eligible for the waiting list.

I have a conflict with the current audition date. Can I still audition for the 2026-27 YOP season?

When will registration for YOP open?

Will there be other audition opportunities to join YOP for the 2026-27 season?

The Youth Orchestra Program holds additional mid-season auditions in November to fill any holes in our sections (typically woodwinds and brass). These auditions are only for students new to the program. We cannot guarantee your instrument will have an opening during these mid-season auditions, so we encourage students to audition during the June audition cycle. Current YOP students may only audition into a higher ensemble during June auditions.

YOP General FAQs

Parent Representatives

Are students required to be in their school orchestra/band?

Does the Youth Orchestra Program have age restrictions?

Some YOP ensembles do have age restrictions. All YOP students must be enrolled in Public, Private, or Home school.

String Sinfonietta: No age restriction.
Camerata Strings: No age restriction. Students should have prior ensemble experience.
Percussion Ensemble: Rising 5th grade or higher
Youth Concert Orchestra: Rising 5th grade or higher.
Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra: Rising 7th grade or higher

How many performances do the ensembles present each season?

Is there any financial assistance available?

Are students required to take private lessons?

Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra Gallery

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