Canton Youth Symphonies
Patrick Elementary School, 2331 17th St. NW, Canton, OH 44708
About
Canton Youth Symphonies is a progressive orchestra training program that includes Canton Youth Strings, Canton Youth Symphony, and Canton Youth Symphony Advanced Orchestra. Students play with students from a variety of area schools and perform beginning, intermediate, and advanced string and orchestral repertoire, including diverse and challenging pieces from the standard orchestral repertoire, educational arrangements, and original editions of major works. Participants study with Canton Symphony Orchestra musicians through sectionals and may play a side-by-side concert with the Canton Symphony Orchestra.
• Ages: 8–18 years old
• Schedule: Rehearsals are structured in 3 cycles per year for each ensemble, with Monday evening options for Canton Youth Strings and Canton Youth Symphony Advanced Orchestra and a Tuesday evening option for Canton Youth Symphony; each cycle ends with a public concert.
• Price: Canton Youth Strings 2025–26 tuition is $120 per year or $45 per cycle (3 cycles per year); Canton Youth Symphony Advanced Orchestra 2025–26 tuition is $215 per year or $75 per cycle (3 cycles per year); Canton Youth Symphony 2025–26 tuition is $215 per year or $75 per cycle (3 cycles per year).
The Canton Youth Symphony was founded in 1961 and has grown to include three ensembles made up of students from ten counties in the Northeast Ohio area. The program’s mission states that it was founded to give young musicians the opportunity to participate in a high-quality regional youth orchestra that strives to provide a professional atmosphere for music making and the highest artistic standards, and that it is meant to supplement, not replace, school instruction and ensemble participation. In support of school music programs, it is the policy of the Canton Youth Symphonies that members are required to also participate in at least one of their school’s instrumental ensembles, with exceptions for home schooled students, students who play an instrument that is not taught at their school, and case-by-case consideration of extenuating circumstances.
The leadership team includes Matthew Jenkins Jaroszewicz as Canton Youth Symphony Advanced Orchestra (CYSAO) Conductor, Michele N. Monigold as Canton Youth Symphony (CYS) Conductor, and Youth Strings Conductor Raylena Bevington. Matthew Jenkins Jaroszewicz holds degrees from Brown University and Mannes College of Music, served as a Julius Rudel Conducting Fellow with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, and was Co-Founder and Artistic Director of Apotheosis Opera in New York City. Michele N. Monigold earned a bachelor’s degree in clarinet performance and music education from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and a master’s degree in music education from The University of Akron, is an active OMEA adjudicator, performs as a member of Akron Symphonic Winds, and recently retired as Director of Bands and Music Department Head at Jackson High School. Michele N. Monigold was selected as the State Board of Education District 8 Ohio Teacher of the Year for 2019 and is the 2023 University of Akron School of Music Distinguished Music Educator Alumni Award winner.
Last updated June 27, 2026.
• Ages: 8–18 years old
• Schedule: Rehearsals are structured in 3 cycles per year for each ensemble, with Monday evening options for Canton Youth Strings and Canton Youth Symphony Advanced Orchestra and a Tuesday evening option for Canton Youth Symphony; each cycle ends with a public concert.
• Price: Canton Youth Strings 2025–26 tuition is $120 per year or $45 per cycle (3 cycles per year); Canton Youth Symphony Advanced Orchestra 2025–26 tuition is $215 per year or $75 per cycle (3 cycles per year); Canton Youth Symphony 2025–26 tuition is $215 per year or $75 per cycle (3 cycles per year).
The Canton Youth Symphony was founded in 1961 and has grown to include three ensembles made up of students from ten counties in the Northeast Ohio area. The program’s mission states that it was founded to give young musicians the opportunity to participate in a high-quality regional youth orchestra that strives to provide a professional atmosphere for music making and the highest artistic standards, and that it is meant to supplement, not replace, school instruction and ensemble participation. In support of school music programs, it is the policy of the Canton Youth Symphonies that members are required to also participate in at least one of their school’s instrumental ensembles, with exceptions for home schooled students, students who play an instrument that is not taught at their school, and case-by-case consideration of extenuating circumstances.
The leadership team includes Matthew Jenkins Jaroszewicz as Canton Youth Symphony Advanced Orchestra (CYSAO) Conductor, Michele N. Monigold as Canton Youth Symphony (CYS) Conductor, and Youth Strings Conductor Raylena Bevington. Matthew Jenkins Jaroszewicz holds degrees from Brown University and Mannes College of Music, served as a Julius Rudel Conducting Fellow with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, and was Co-Founder and Artistic Director of Apotheosis Opera in New York City. Michele N. Monigold earned a bachelor’s degree in clarinet performance and music education from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and a master’s degree in music education from The University of Akron, is an active OMEA adjudicator, performs as a member of Akron Symphonic Winds, and recently retired as Director of Bands and Music Department Head at Jackson High School. Michele N. Monigold was selected as the State Board of Education District 8 Ohio Teacher of the Year for 2019 and is the 2023 University of Akron School of Music Distinguished Music Educator Alumni Award winner.
Last updated June 27, 2026.
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