Youth Orchestras of Fresno, a nonprofit organization, encompasses three separate orchestras serving 250 young musicians from 14 Central Valley cities (seven counties). Participants range in age from 5 to 19 and represent 70 different area schools. The group celebrated its sixtieth anniversary during the 2010-2011 season, having been founded as a string orchestra in 1950.
Our advanced ensemble, the Youth Philharmonic Orchestra, frequently teams with other ensembles and with soloists to produce concerts as musically impressive as they are exhilarating. Don%u2019t miss the staging of the beloved opera Hansel and Gretel on December 11 at the Shaghoian Concert Hall with soloists and members of the Bach Children's Choir. On February 12, also at the Shaghoian, charismatic tenor Scott Piper will return for his second Love Conquers All concert, bringing soprano Layna Chianakas with him to sizzle in arias and duets by Wagner, Massenet, Rossini, and Puccini.
In May 2012 the Youth Orchestras will host the first-ever Fresno international Youth Orchestra (FiYO) Festival, bringing young musicians from around the world to rehearse and celebrate in Fresno. The gala FiYO Festival concert on May 27 at the Saroyan Theatre will feature the majestic Eleventh Symphony by Dmitri Shostakovich.
All Youth Orchestras of Fresno concerts are free for those under 18 and/or with school ID.