Saint Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra

Ward Stare, Music Director
Peggy Neilson, Manager

The Saint Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra has had a significant impact on the region’s Student musicians for over 35 years.  The Youth Orchestra consists of 95-100 young musicians ranging in age from 12-22. The Youth Orchestra rehearses weekly on Saturday afternoons during the school year and presents three programs a season in Powell Symphony Hall. This season we welcome new music director Ward Stare, who is also the new resident conductor for the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra.

Members of the Youth Orchestra represent more than three dozen schools throughout the St. Louis region and some from as far away as Springfield, Illinois, and Rolla, Jefferson City, and Columbia, Missouri.  The Youth Orchestra members receive coaching from the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra members during the season.

Founded in 1970 by Leonard Slatkin, the SLS Youth Orchestra has been a springboard for many young musicians seeking a career in orchestral music – including some current members of the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra. There are over than 1,000 alumni now playing, teaching and in fields other than music.

In 2006, the YO performed in the Missouri State Capital Building in Jefferson City and spoke with legislators about the importance of music education. The SLSYO continues its advocacy for music education locally and state wide.

Admission to the Youth Orchestra is by annual auditions. Preliminary auditions are held in May.

For information on the Saint Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra please contact Peggy Neilson, Youth Orchestra Manager, at (314) 286-4407, at peggy@slso.org.

2009–2010 Season

Ticket prices: $8, 12, 14 in advance; $12, 16, 18 day of concert

Special Youth Orchestra

Sunday, October 18, 2009 at 3pm

Youth Symphony of Kansas City
Steven Davis, conductor
Saint Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra
Ward Stare, conductor

BRAHMS Academic Festival Overture
BERLIOZ selections from the Symphonie fantastique
SHOSTAKOVICH Festive Overture
MENDELSSOHN  Symphony 5, “Reformation”- mvt. II
BERNSTEIN Candide Overture
WAGNER Prelude to Die Meistersinger

Youth Orchestra

Sunday, November 15, 2009 at 3pm

Ward Stare, conductor

MOZART  Overture to The Marriage of Figaro
BACH/STOKOWSKI   Toccata and Fugue
WAGNER Prelude to Die Meistersinger
BRAHMS Academic Festival Overture
MENDELSSOHN  Symphony 5, “Reformation”

Youth Orchestra

- Sunday, March 7, 2010 at 3pm

Ward Stare, conductor

BERNSTEIN Candide Overture
JOSEPH SCHWANTNER Chasing Light...
VAUGHN WILLIAMS Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis
BRITTEN Four Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes

Joseph Schwantner’s Chasing Light… is part of Ford Made in American, made possible by the Ford Motor Company Fund.

Youth Orchestra

- Sunday, May 16, 2010 at 3pm

Ward Stare, conductor

SHOSTAKOVICH Festive Overture
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV Russian Easter Overture
TCHAIKOVSKY Waltz from Sleeping Beauty
Concerto: TBD
STRAVINSKY  Suite from The Firebird (1919 version)