About
The Claremont Young Musicians Orchestra presents major symphonic works and soloists in concert, along with special concerts for children, community programs, and chamber music performances. The organization includes rehearsals for orchestras, a beginning orchestral experience for string players, and musical training and development for intermediate level orchestral players. It also offers European concert tours for its musicians.
• Ages: 9–18 years old
• Schedule: Rehearsals for all three groups are held on Sundays from September through May
Founded in 1989 by Roger and Janet Samuel, the Claremont Young Musicians Orchestra is dedicated to the artistic and personal excellence of young musicians and the preservation of symphonic music for future generations. The organization includes the Claremont Young Musicians Intermezzo Orchestra, added in 1992 as a preparatory group for CYMO, and the Claremont Young Musicians Overture String Orchestra, formed in 2019 to provide a beginning orchestral experience for string players in grades 3 to 8 to prepare them for the Intermezzo Orchestra. The Intermezzo Orchestra has 75 members ages 9 to 18, and the Overture String Orchestra has 35 members. Auditions for the Overture String Orchestra are held in September two weeks after the auditions for the CYMO and the Intermezzo Orchestra.
The CYMO’s repertoire includes works by Tchaikovsky, Hindemith, Copland, Britten, Rimsky-Korsakov, Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, Borodin, Mahler, Shostakovich, Leonard Bernstein, and John Adams. The Intermezzo Orchestra repertoire includes original works such as Overture to Nabucco, Symphony No. 5 by Mendelssohn, Danse Macabre, Merry Mount Suite, Zampa Overture, Dance of the Comedians, Carmen Suite #1, March Slave, Egmont Overture, and Peer Gynt Suite No. 1. The CYMO presents a member of the Los Angeles Philharmonic as soloist each January.
The Claremont Young Musicians Orchestra has taken multiple European concert tours, including an inaugural tour in 1997 and subsequent tours in 2000, 2007, and 2013. The CYMO has been conducted in rehearsal by Gustavo Dudamel and Esa-Pekka Salonen, and has been conducted in concert at Walt Disney Concert Hall by Juan Felipe Molano. On May 26, 2019, the Los Angeles Philharmonic presented the CYMO in concert at Walt Disney Concert Hall, and the orchestra has also performed in the same concert series and at the Youth Orchestra Festival Day as part of the Los Angeles Philharmonic's Youth Orchestra Partner's Program, including as an LA Philharmonic “Premiere” youth orchestra.
Many CYMO graduates have attended music schools such as the Juilliard School of Music, USC Thornton School of Music, Oberlin Conservatory, Eastman School of Music, New England Conservatory, Colburn School, Cleveland Institute of Music, Mannes College, Yale University School of Music, Peabody Conservatory, Berklee College of Music, San Francisco Conservatory, Shepherd School of Music, Northwestern University, and Indiana University. Numerous alumni are performing with or involved in the management of orchestras worldwide. The organization has been described as an amazing group of musicians and teachers sharing a love of music with young people for the past 30 years and as always providing an exceptional classical music experience for young musicians.
Last updated July 3, 2026.
• Ages: 9–18 years old
• Schedule: Rehearsals for all three groups are held on Sundays from September through May
Founded in 1989 by Roger and Janet Samuel, the Claremont Young Musicians Orchestra is dedicated to the artistic and personal excellence of young musicians and the preservation of symphonic music for future generations. The organization includes the Claremont Young Musicians Intermezzo Orchestra, added in 1992 as a preparatory group for CYMO, and the Claremont Young Musicians Overture String Orchestra, formed in 2019 to provide a beginning orchestral experience for string players in grades 3 to 8 to prepare them for the Intermezzo Orchestra. The Intermezzo Orchestra has 75 members ages 9 to 18, and the Overture String Orchestra has 35 members. Auditions for the Overture String Orchestra are held in September two weeks after the auditions for the CYMO and the Intermezzo Orchestra.
The CYMO’s repertoire includes works by Tchaikovsky, Hindemith, Copland, Britten, Rimsky-Korsakov, Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, Borodin, Mahler, Shostakovich, Leonard Bernstein, and John Adams. The Intermezzo Orchestra repertoire includes original works such as Overture to Nabucco, Symphony No. 5 by Mendelssohn, Danse Macabre, Merry Mount Suite, Zampa Overture, Dance of the Comedians, Carmen Suite #1, March Slave, Egmont Overture, and Peer Gynt Suite No. 1. The CYMO presents a member of the Los Angeles Philharmonic as soloist each January.
The Claremont Young Musicians Orchestra has taken multiple European concert tours, including an inaugural tour in 1997 and subsequent tours in 2000, 2007, and 2013. The CYMO has been conducted in rehearsal by Gustavo Dudamel and Esa-Pekka Salonen, and has been conducted in concert at Walt Disney Concert Hall by Juan Felipe Molano. On May 26, 2019, the Los Angeles Philharmonic presented the CYMO in concert at Walt Disney Concert Hall, and the orchestra has also performed in the same concert series and at the Youth Orchestra Festival Day as part of the Los Angeles Philharmonic's Youth Orchestra Partner's Program, including as an LA Philharmonic “Premiere” youth orchestra.
Many CYMO graduates have attended music schools such as the Juilliard School of Music, USC Thornton School of Music, Oberlin Conservatory, Eastman School of Music, New England Conservatory, Colburn School, Cleveland Institute of Music, Mannes College, Yale University School of Music, Peabody Conservatory, Berklee College of Music, San Francisco Conservatory, Shepherd School of Music, Northwestern University, and Indiana University. Numerous alumni are performing with or involved in the management of orchestras worldwide. The organization has been described as an amazing group of musicians and teachers sharing a love of music with young people for the past 30 years and as always providing an exceptional classical music experience for young musicians.
Last updated July 3, 2026.
Is this your business? There is no cost, but you will be asked to sign up or log in.