About
Youth Music Monterey County features Junior Youth and Honors Orchestras that present three symphonic concerts each year and include auditions for these orchestras. The program also offers chamber music programs such as Chamber Players, Brass Ensemble, and Woodwind Ensemble, as well as benefit concerts and public performances representing Youth Music Monterey County. Additional activities include free group string instruction, low-cost instrument rentals, learning an instrument, being part of an orchestra, and performing with students from other schools.
• Ages: 8–18 years old
• Schedule: Auditions for the 2026–2027 season will be Tuesday, May 12th and Wednesday, May 13th.
Youth Music Monterey County was established as a 501(c)(3) organization on May 18, 1988, with the merger of the Youth Orchestra of Monterey County, established in 1981, and Summer Music Monterey, established in 1965. The Junior Youth and Honors Orchestras are led by professional conductor Maestro Alan Truong, and the 2019–2020 Honors Orchestra was under Maestro Danko Druško. The organization’s legacy of conductors includes Maestro Stewart Robinson (1981–1984), Maestro Vince Gomez (1984–1992), Maestro John Larry Granger (1992–2012), Maestro Farkhad Khudyev (2012–2019), Maestro Danko Druško (2019–2023), and Maestro Daniel Brier (2023–2025). The mission of Youth Music Monterey County is to inspire excellence in individual students and enrich the community by providing young people with opportunities to participate in, and gain greater understanding of, music and its performance.
Youth Music Monterey County supports two orchestras, a chamber music program, a brass ensemble, a woodwind ensemble, an in-school program, and an afterschool program, and the Junior Youth and Honors Orchestras feature approximately 100 student musicians. Each year, these orchestras provide more than 100 local student musicians a high-caliber learning opportunity under the direction of a professional conductor and feature talented young musicians from over 30 local schools. Three chamber music programs focus on the intensive study of small-group music and give back to their communities through benefit concerts.
The South County Strings program works with over 200 students each year in rural South Monterey County communities and provides free violin, viola, and cello instruction in group lessons during the school day to students in grades 3–8 living in rural south Monterey County, along with low-cost instrument rentals. Orchestra In The Schools offers Monterey County children in grades 3–8 an opportunity to learn an instrument, be part of an orchestra, and perform with students from other schools. Youth Music Monterey County’s South County Strings Program involves formal partnerships with South County school districts, including Soledad Union School District, San Antonio Union School in Lockwood, and Bradley Union School in Bradley.
These musicians perform at the Sunset Center, and community members support Youth Music Monterey County programs through concert attendance, donations and sponsorships, volunteering, and grants. Youth Music Monterey County states a commitment to championing the principles of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in its board, staff, and students, and believes music should be available to all people regardless of cultural, geographic, or financial considerations, welcoming qualified music students irrespective of race, gender, or socioeconomic circumstance. The organization also honors the importance of diversifying its performance repertoire to provide opportunities for under-represented composers, instrumentalists, and vocalists, is committed to having a diverse board and staff to reflect the cultural make-up of Monterey County, and keeps programs affordable by bridging the gap between student fees and actual program cost through community support.
Last updated July 22, 2026.
• Ages: 8–18 years old
• Schedule: Auditions for the 2026–2027 season will be Tuesday, May 12th and Wednesday, May 13th.
Youth Music Monterey County was established as a 501(c)(3) organization on May 18, 1988, with the merger of the Youth Orchestra of Monterey County, established in 1981, and Summer Music Monterey, established in 1965. The Junior Youth and Honors Orchestras are led by professional conductor Maestro Alan Truong, and the 2019–2020 Honors Orchestra was under Maestro Danko Druško. The organization’s legacy of conductors includes Maestro Stewart Robinson (1981–1984), Maestro Vince Gomez (1984–1992), Maestro John Larry Granger (1992–2012), Maestro Farkhad Khudyev (2012–2019), Maestro Danko Druško (2019–2023), and Maestro Daniel Brier (2023–2025). The mission of Youth Music Monterey County is to inspire excellence in individual students and enrich the community by providing young people with opportunities to participate in, and gain greater understanding of, music and its performance.
Youth Music Monterey County supports two orchestras, a chamber music program, a brass ensemble, a woodwind ensemble, an in-school program, and an afterschool program, and the Junior Youth and Honors Orchestras feature approximately 100 student musicians. Each year, these orchestras provide more than 100 local student musicians a high-caliber learning opportunity under the direction of a professional conductor and feature talented young musicians from over 30 local schools. Three chamber music programs focus on the intensive study of small-group music and give back to their communities through benefit concerts.
The South County Strings program works with over 200 students each year in rural South Monterey County communities and provides free violin, viola, and cello instruction in group lessons during the school day to students in grades 3–8 living in rural south Monterey County, along with low-cost instrument rentals. Orchestra In The Schools offers Monterey County children in grades 3–8 an opportunity to learn an instrument, be part of an orchestra, and perform with students from other schools. Youth Music Monterey County’s South County Strings Program involves formal partnerships with South County school districts, including Soledad Union School District, San Antonio Union School in Lockwood, and Bradley Union School in Bradley.
These musicians perform at the Sunset Center, and community members support Youth Music Monterey County programs through concert attendance, donations and sponsorships, volunteering, and grants. Youth Music Monterey County states a commitment to championing the principles of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in its board, staff, and students, and believes music should be available to all people regardless of cultural, geographic, or financial considerations, welcoming qualified music students irrespective of race, gender, or socioeconomic circumstance. The organization also honors the importance of diversifying its performance repertoire to provide opportunities for under-represented composers, instrumentalists, and vocalists, is committed to having a diverse board and staff to reflect the cultural make-up of Monterey County, and keeps programs affordable by bridging the gap between student fees and actual program cost through community support.
Last updated July 22, 2026.
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