Canton Youth Symphonies
Zimmermann Symphony Center, 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 peers from a variety of area schools, perform beginning and intermediate string repertoire, and perform diverse and challenging pieces from the standard orchestral repertoire, including educational arrangements and original editions of major works. Musicians study with Canton Symphony Orchestra musicians through sectionals and play a side-by-side concert with the Canton Symphony Orchestra.
• Ages: 8–18 years old
• Schedule: Rehearsals for Monday ensembles begin September 14 and for the Tuesday ensemble begin September 15; the season is split into three cycles, each ending with a public concert
• Price: Canton Youth Strings 2025–26 tuition is $120/year or $45/cycle (3 cycles/year); Canton Youth Symphony Advanced Orchestra 2025–26 tuition is $215/year or $75/cycle (3 cycles/year); Canton Youth Symphony 2025–26 tuition is $215/year or $75/cycle (3 cycles/year)
The Canton Youth Symphony was founded in 1961 as a way 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 it is meant to supplement, not replace, school instruction and ensemble participation. The program has grown to include three ensembles and is made up of students from ten counties in the Northeast Ohio area. In support of school music programs, members are required to also participate in at least one of their school’s instrumental ensembles, with exceptions for home schooled students and students who play an instrument that is not taught at their school, and each musician is required to have the ensemble director sign a Proof of Ensemble Participation form at the beginning of each season. All beginning and intermediate string players are allowed to participate in Canton Youth Strings if they have basic skills and sight-reading abilities, and an audition is required for placement.
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 Raylena Bevington as Youth Strings Conductor. 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, continues to perform 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 for Monday ensembles begin September 14 and for the Tuesday ensemble begin September 15; the season is split into three cycles, each ending with a public concert
• Price: Canton Youth Strings 2025–26 tuition is $120/year or $45/cycle (3 cycles/year); Canton Youth Symphony Advanced Orchestra 2025–26 tuition is $215/year or $75/cycle (3 cycles/year); Canton Youth Symphony 2025–26 tuition is $215/year or $75/cycle (3 cycles/year)
The Canton Youth Symphony was founded in 1961 as a way 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 it is meant to supplement, not replace, school instruction and ensemble participation. The program has grown to include three ensembles and is made up of students from ten counties in the Northeast Ohio area. In support of school music programs, members are required to also participate in at least one of their school’s instrumental ensembles, with exceptions for home schooled students and students who play an instrument that is not taught at their school, and each musician is required to have the ensemble director sign a Proof of Ensemble Participation form at the beginning of each season. All beginning and intermediate string players are allowed to participate in Canton Youth Strings if they have basic skills and sight-reading abilities, and an audition is required for placement.
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 Raylena Bevington as Youth Strings Conductor. 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, continues to perform 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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