Youth Music Programs

Designed to increase the multicultural diversity of American orchestras, the Young Strings program of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra discovers, develops and promotes the musical talent of outstanding African American and Latino string players in the city of Dallas, and provides them with the skills and resources necessary to pursue professional careers in music.

Founded in 1992 by Dallas Symphony Orchestra musicians and board members, Young Strings offers three levels of instruction and currently serves close to 200 students annually.

Beginning students attend general music classes and then progress to semi-private instrumental lessons with highly trained instructors. Advanced students are selected by audition to study privately with musicians from the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, or teachers of an equally high caliber.

And all instruction is provided to students free of charge.

Young Strings participants also receive personal mentoring, performance opportunities, chamber music instruction, concert tickets and support for summer studies at prestigious camps and institutions. The program's instrument loan bank provides students with quality instruments if they cannot afford their own.

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Since 1972, the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra has grown from an unknown orchestra to an internationally acclaimed ensemble. Today, Greater Dallas Youth Orchestras, Inc., serves over 450 talented musician and includes a total of seven ensembles: the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra (GDYO), the Philharmonic, the Wind Symphony, the Sinfonietta, the Dallas String Ensemble (DSE), Young Performers Orchestra (YPO), the Flute Choir, and the Jazz Institute.

Through competitive auditions held each spring, students are selected for membership and placed in appropriate ensembles. Any student who successfully auditions for any Greater Dallas Youth Orchestras ensemble is accepted regardless of ability to pay. Spring auditions determine placement for the beginning of the new season. The Greater Dallas Youth Orchestras season aligns with most area school calendars, beginning in late August and concluding in May, with breaks for holidays.
For 51 years, the Fort Worth Youth Orchestra has been providing young musicians unparalleled musical instruction, unique performing opportunities, and a chance to study and experience classical music with their peers in a chamber or full orchestra setting. Their programs for young people include:
  • The Youth Orchestra is the premiere ensemble in the program and is dedicated to performing the finest works in the full symphonic repertoire.  
  • The Philharmonic is the preparatory orchestra for membership in the Youth Orchestra.  
  • The String Orchestra is for string students who have had some orchestral experience and who have intermediate skills. 
  • The Junior String Orchestra is for students who have had little or no previous mixed ensemble experience. 
  • The Suzuki and Preparatory Strings Program offers weekly lessons from a talented and dedicated staff of teachers for beginning students ages 3 and up, or those with previous study on an instrument. 
  • Membership to the Chamber Music Program is open to advanced FWYO students who desire to learn to rehearse and play in a chamber music setting.
The Dallas Asian American Youth Orchestra is a non-profit youth orchestra that provides music students in the DFW area an opportunity to play classical music in ensemble and orchestral settings. They mostly play  western classical music, but also include a selection of classical music drawn from Asian composers and sources.  The orchestra is open to all students in the north Texas area.

The DAAYO has a chamber music program and four orchestras:
  • String Explorers - a beginning strings ensemble for students with about one year of experience.
  • Young Musicians Orchestra - a string ensemble for students with three to five years of experience and who play the 1st through 3rd positions with ease.
  • Philharmonic Orchestra - This full orchestra with strings and winds mainly c0mprises middle school students.
  • Symphony Orchestra – The DAAYO's highest-level performing ensemble, with both strings and winds. The comprises mostly high school students.

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