The Utah Youth Symphony Orchestra, our original orchestra, was founded in 1957 at the University of Utah, and has been in residence there ever since. With approximately 100 musicians, Utah Youth Symphony Orchestra is the size of a professional orchestra and is one of two high school orchestras within UYO&E. Led by Music Director and Conductor, Barbara Scowcroft, UYSO challenges our students with unparalleled opportunities to perform a myriad of highly advanced, unedited classical literature at the highest level in Utah’s finest concert venues. Numerous sectional instructional sessions are conducted with very low student:teacher ratios by some of our area’s finest musicians, including musicians from the Utah Symphony, U of U School of Music, BYU School of Music, Weber State School of Music, UVU School of Music, Ballet West, and other top-tier music instructors in our area. UYSO provides exceptional preparation for highly-committed youth musicians expecting to major in music, enter the music profession, or to enjoy music as a life-long avocation. Musicians accepted to UYSO generally have several years of ensemble experience, ideally with the Utah Youth Junior Symphony Orchestra, are expected to be members of their school bands or orchestras, study their instruments with private teachers, and perform individually at the pre-collegiate or collegiate level. We strongly encourage our musicians’ participation in their high school band or orchestra for the exceptional benefits to youth musicians and UYSO. In turn, the UYSO experience enhances high school bands and orchestras. In addition, UYSO offers our students the emotionally, socially, artistically, and intellectually-supportive, nurturing environment of our 200+ UYO&E youth musicians and professionals.
