Bay Philharmonic Youth Orchestra
Cole Hall (Auxiliary Space behind First United Methodist Church), 2950 Washington Blvd, Fremont, CA 94539
About
Bay Philharmonic Youth Orchestra offers a youth orchestra program with three learning levels called Melodia, Bravi, and Virtuosi, along with small group ensembles. Participants take part in named events such as the Summer Ensemble Program, Side by Side Concert, Winter Concert, Spring Concert, and Journey to the Symphony.
• Schedule: Rehearsals for Melodia, Bravi, and Virtuosi are held on Mondays from 4:30–7:30 pm.
• Price: $50 buys an instrument for a young musician; $100 purchases a music arrangement; $600 buys sheet music and rentals for one ensemble for a concert series; a gift of $1,500 provides a Bay Philharmonic Youth Orchestra tuition scholarship; $10,000 buys missing percussion instruments needed.
The Bay Philharmonic Youth Orchestra is organized on three learning levels: Melodia as an intermediate orchestra, Bravi as an advanced orchestra, and Virtuosi as a very advanced orchestra. The program is now recruiting all instruments and is actively recruiting strings, winds, and percussion musicians, with auditions conducted before the season starts. The 25/26 Spring Season starts January 12, and auditions are described as a golden opportunity to develop musical and life skills while showcasing talent through performances and high-quality instruction. Merit and need-based scholarships may be available as funds support, with a focus for tuition scholarships on under-served and foster children. The Bay Phil Youth Orchestra is described as the Bay Area’s Best Music Education Destination and emphasizes personal growth and musical development, high-quality, cost-effective education and instruction, and the power of personal instruction. Participants can join small group ensembles for additional training and performance experiences, including the 2024 Summer Ensemble Program, which is open whether children are budding prodigies or taking their first steps in music. The program includes an opportunity to play side-by-side with professional musicians and is described as an uplifting, joyful, and fun experience.
Judy Lam, BPYO Director Emeritus, is returning to direct the youth orchestra and ensembles in the 25/26 Season, and she will conduct auditions in August 2025 as individually needed and plan all Bay Philharmonic Youth Orchestra programs and performances. Judy Lam has conducted flute ensembles, chamber groups, choruses, and musicals, many featuring her original ensemble arrangements, and she has performed with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra and the Hong Kong Youth Orchestra. She received music education from the University of California in Los Angeles, has received coaching from several noted musicians including Hans Jürgen Möhring and Peter Lloyd, and has been teaching and nurturing a new generation of flautists in Fremont since 1990. She is Director of the Virtuoso International Flute Ensemble, serves as a school band consultant with the Fremont Unified School District coaching young flautists in elementary, middle, and high schools, and received the 2015 Alameda County Arts Leadership Award. Marcella Schantz, Audition Assistant and Conductor Emeritus and Personnel Manager, graduated with honors from the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music, performs regularly with Bay Area orchestras including Bay Philharmonic, Oakland Symphony, West Edge Opera, and California Symphony, and has significant experience conducting youth orchestra ensembles and coordinating musical showcase performances. Merna Morse, BPYO Ambassador and Liaison, is a pianist, cellist, and retired Fremont Unified School District teacher who was one of the original cellists in the Bay Philharmonic and continued as a member for many years.
The leadership team includes Dr. Francis A. Rojas as Executive Director; Katie Littlejohn for box office and social media; Sally Dew for graphic design; Danielle Johnson for digital marketing; Daniel Hallett as orchestra librarian; Matthew O'Donnell as production manager and lighting director; Anthony Wickizer as stage manager; Brad Gardner as audio engineer; and board members including Donald Pipkin as Chair, Eva-Maria Tisdale as Treasurer, Cecilia Caparas Apelin as Secretary of the Corporation, Lisa Lorenz as Board Member, and Marcella Schantz as Musician Representative. The Bay Philharmonic states that its mission is to serve Bay Area residents, help build stronger communities, and improve quality of life through live entertainment, with a vision of using music to bring diverse communities together into harmony and to foster beauty and joy across the Bay Area and beyond. The organization states that it values diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, and aims to make performances affordable and accessible while honoring the area’s diverse cultures and engaging guests. The Bay Phil Youth Orchestra exists to continue providing extended music education for Bay Area youth at a time when arts and music programs are among the first cut from school budgets, and its focus for tuition scholarships is under-served and foster children.
Last updated April 1, 2026.
• Schedule: Rehearsals for Melodia, Bravi, and Virtuosi are held on Mondays from 4:30–7:30 pm.
• Price: $50 buys an instrument for a young musician; $100 purchases a music arrangement; $600 buys sheet music and rentals for one ensemble for a concert series; a gift of $1,500 provides a Bay Philharmonic Youth Orchestra tuition scholarship; $10,000 buys missing percussion instruments needed.
The Bay Philharmonic Youth Orchestra is organized on three learning levels: Melodia as an intermediate orchestra, Bravi as an advanced orchestra, and Virtuosi as a very advanced orchestra. The program is now recruiting all instruments and is actively recruiting strings, winds, and percussion musicians, with auditions conducted before the season starts. The 25/26 Spring Season starts January 12, and auditions are described as a golden opportunity to develop musical and life skills while showcasing talent through performances and high-quality instruction. Merit and need-based scholarships may be available as funds support, with a focus for tuition scholarships on under-served and foster children. The Bay Phil Youth Orchestra is described as the Bay Area’s Best Music Education Destination and emphasizes personal growth and musical development, high-quality, cost-effective education and instruction, and the power of personal instruction. Participants can join small group ensembles for additional training and performance experiences, including the 2024 Summer Ensemble Program, which is open whether children are budding prodigies or taking their first steps in music. The program includes an opportunity to play side-by-side with professional musicians and is described as an uplifting, joyful, and fun experience.
Judy Lam, BPYO Director Emeritus, is returning to direct the youth orchestra and ensembles in the 25/26 Season, and she will conduct auditions in August 2025 as individually needed and plan all Bay Philharmonic Youth Orchestra programs and performances. Judy Lam has conducted flute ensembles, chamber groups, choruses, and musicals, many featuring her original ensemble arrangements, and she has performed with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra and the Hong Kong Youth Orchestra. She received music education from the University of California in Los Angeles, has received coaching from several noted musicians including Hans Jürgen Möhring and Peter Lloyd, and has been teaching and nurturing a new generation of flautists in Fremont since 1990. She is Director of the Virtuoso International Flute Ensemble, serves as a school band consultant with the Fremont Unified School District coaching young flautists in elementary, middle, and high schools, and received the 2015 Alameda County Arts Leadership Award. Marcella Schantz, Audition Assistant and Conductor Emeritus and Personnel Manager, graduated with honors from the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music, performs regularly with Bay Area orchestras including Bay Philharmonic, Oakland Symphony, West Edge Opera, and California Symphony, and has significant experience conducting youth orchestra ensembles and coordinating musical showcase performances. Merna Morse, BPYO Ambassador and Liaison, is a pianist, cellist, and retired Fremont Unified School District teacher who was one of the original cellists in the Bay Philharmonic and continued as a member for many years.
The leadership team includes Dr. Francis A. Rojas as Executive Director; Katie Littlejohn for box office and social media; Sally Dew for graphic design; Danielle Johnson for digital marketing; Daniel Hallett as orchestra librarian; Matthew O'Donnell as production manager and lighting director; Anthony Wickizer as stage manager; Brad Gardner as audio engineer; and board members including Donald Pipkin as Chair, Eva-Maria Tisdale as Treasurer, Cecilia Caparas Apelin as Secretary of the Corporation, Lisa Lorenz as Board Member, and Marcella Schantz as Musician Representative. The Bay Philharmonic states that its mission is to serve Bay Area residents, help build stronger communities, and improve quality of life through live entertainment, with a vision of using music to bring diverse communities together into harmony and to foster beauty and joy across the Bay Area and beyond. The organization states that it values diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, and aims to make performances affordable and accessible while honoring the area’s diverse cultures and engaging guests. The Bay Phil Youth Orchestra exists to continue providing extended music education for Bay Area youth at a time when arts and music programs are among the first cut from school budgets, and its focus for tuition scholarships is under-served and foster children.
Last updated April 1, 2026.
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