California’s Oldest Youth ORchestra. Founded in 1936.

OUR MISSION IS TO GUIDE YOUNG MUSICIANS TO ACHIEVE EXCELLENCE WITHIN AN ORCHESTRAL SETTING.

WE ENCOURAGE YOUNG PEOPLE TO BECOME EXEMPLARY MUSICIANS, AND YOUNG MUSICIANS TO BECOME EXEMPLARY PEOPLE.

Get Tickets!

YPSO is proud to be collaborating, for the first time, with fellow longstanding Berkeley institution, Berkeley Community Chorus & Orchestra.

On Jan 27th, 2024 | 7:30pm, at the Walnut Creek Presbyterian Church, we will be performing

  • Bunch Supermaximum

  • Saint-Saens Violin Concerto in B Minor Op, 61, Mvt 1

  • Poulenc Gloria (with BCCO)

Students get in for free! (Please register on our ticket site for head count)

Donate Today!

Empower the Future of Music!

Your Gift, Their Journey - Support Scholarships for Cultural Exchange in Japan

This season, YPSO is embarking on a 9-day, 3-concert summer tour of Japan.  We have a unique opportunity to perform there, do a local cultural exchange program, and visit major cultural sites in Kyoto, Hiroshima, the Instrument Museum in Hamamatsu, & Tokyo.

Help make a profound impact for a young musician so that every student will have a place in the orchestra and on tour. 

Auditions for next season, 24-25 are open!

YPSO’s advanced-level young musician’s orchestra program helps guide students ages 11-21. They play together, learn together, and develop essential interpersonal and leadership skills together. Our students form bonds from within their orchestral community, and build connections to a greater global one.

Want to audition and join us?

Come see us in concert!

YPSO has 3 remaining CONCERTS this season:

Sat Jan 27th, 2024 | 7:30pm | Walnut Creek Presbyterian Church

Sat Apr 27th, 2024 | 7:30pm | First Congregational Church Berkeley

Sun Jun 9th, 2024  | 5:00pm | Bruns Amphitheater, Cal Shakes, Orinda

Find out more about Event Details and Ticket Pricing.

Be instrumental in the lives of our youth!

YPSO has many music players. And you too, are a player of note! We need your help to keep the music flowing - because while essential, music (and the arts) is very often underfunded both in and out of the classroom. Not only are young students learning how to hone in their musical expression, they are being immersed in key skills such as collaboration, improving interpersonal relations, building leadership abilities, and creating lasting friendships.

Thank you for supporting us!

Stay in the know about upcoming YPSO concerts, and other community collaborations, by signing up for our mailing list!