Spokane Youth Symphony

As a member of one of the Spokane Youth Symphony Orchestras, I can say that it is a solid organization operated by experienced musicians who desire their young students to have a great experience learning to make beautiful music together. Young musicians travel from around the Spokane area and far places including Tri-Cities, WA and Sandpoint, ID to participate. The Spokane Youth Symphony (SYS) is a great choice for your young musician because unlike their school orchestras, all musicians in SYS are dedicated to their instruments and mastering performance skills. Students will complete entrance auditions either in the spring after the season has ended, or in the fall before the season begins. Their auditions will place them into one of four orchestras based on their skill level and the instrument they play. There are two strings only orchestras, Strings and Sinfonietta, which increase in difficulty respectively. The majority of the musicians in these two orchestras are elementary students. The next two orchestras are full orchestras, meaning they are complete with strings, winds, brass, and percussion. I am principle oboist in the Philharmonic, which is the lower level full orchestra. Most musicians in the Philharmonic are middle school and junior high students. The Symphony Orchestra is the highest-level orchestra whose students are very dedicated to their instruments and have shown extraordinary skill over the years. These students are generally high schoolers who will prioritize music throughout their life. If a student is ready to “level up” from his orchestra, he will complete an audition to the desired orchestra at the time of other entrance auditions. Each orchestra is conducted by an experienced musician including Dr. Baldwin, Dr. Bottelli, Ms. Harris, and Dr. Marshall. The conductors care about their students and want them to succeed. They make rehearsals on Monday evenings productive and fun and choose music that will challenge the musicians, and which they know the students will enjoy playing. During rehearsals, they learn rehearsal etiquette and how to be respectful, encouraging and supportive to their fellow musicians. The conductors are patient and kind, and never intimidating. The cost of participating in SYS is lowered by donating time as a parent volunteer and by fundraisers. Every year, students are expected to sell ten holiday wreaths to cover expenses and lessen the cost of tuition. There are also discounts for multiple student families. Tickets to hear the orchestras perform are very reasonable and well worth the cost. SYS gives four performances each season at the Martin Woldson Theater at the Fox in Spokane, Washington. Typically, each orchestra performs three to four pieces of different styles that they have been working on over the past months. For example, this last performance on November 3, 2019, the Philharmonic played the Entertainer by Joplin, Hopak by Mussorgsky, and Symphony no. 4 in D by Clementi. Overall, the Spokane Youth Symphony Orchestras provide a great musical experience and aim to equip students with tools they can use in their future musical journey. For my brother and I, and many of my friends in SYS, Monday night is our favorite day of the week. Consider participating in the Spokane Youth Symphony! Listen to some of the recordings of past performances on the SYS website or come to one of our concerts! We’d love to have you!
Jun 22nd, 2020

Going to see The Spokane Youth Symphony is an opportunity to see the very best that our local youth have to offer. Ticket prices are a bargain and the music is top notch. If you have a young person who plays an instrument this is a wonderful way for them to grow and learn and get an experience that is not available in any local schools that I know of.
Apr 4th, 2011