About
Columbus Symphony Youth Orchestras includes rehearsals, performances, coaching sessions, and one-on-one mentoring with Columbus Symphony musicians. The Youth Orchestra is a 90-member orchestra with students from 19 high schools in nine counties, and members are selected through a competitive audition process held annually in May. Both the Youth Orchestra and Repertory Orchestra work in a highly rigorous learning environment and benefit from a close relationship with Columbus Symphony Cohort Musicians, who are principal and section members of the Columbus Symphony and serve as coaches throughout the season.
• Ages: 12–18 years old
• Schedule: Weekly evening rehearsals during the season
• Price: The annual tuition cost for the Youth Orchestra is $555. The annual tuition cost for the Repertory Orchestra is $525. Financial Aid and payment plans are available for each of the ensembles upon request.
The Youth Orchestra ensemble rehearses on Wednesday evenings from 7 to 9:30 p.m., and the Repertory Orchestra ensemble rehearses on Tuesday evenings from 7 to 9:15 p.m. Performances and rehearsals take place at CAPA theaters such as the Ohio Theater and Joann Davidson Theater-Riffe Center. Members receive a CSYO Member Card that entitles them to two free tickets to each Masterworks concert throughout the current Columbus Symphony Orchestra season.
The Columbus Symphony Youth Orchestras build on nearly 75 years of music-making in Central Ohio. The Repertory Orchestra is a full, symphonic orchestra that performs advanced, unabridged classical works that expand the performance capabilities of its musicians and typically performs four times a season at various locations around central Ohio.
The program’s mission is to foster personal excellence through music, building on nearly 75 years of music-making in Central Ohio. According to the mission statement, students collaborate in a dynamic and supportive learning environment and develop skills such as leadership, self-confidence, teamwork, and resilience, and the program is dedicated to educating, encouraging, and empowering each young musician to grow both on and off the stage.
The leadership team includes Elias Miller, Assistant Conductor of the Columbus Symphony, Music Director of the Columbus Symphony Youth Orchestra, and Music Director of the Apollo Ensemble of Boston; Operations Coordinators Brian Klinger and Daphne Chek; Conductor Dr. Mark Sholl; and Assistant Conductor Dr. Jim Bates. Elias Miller holds degrees from Harvard University (A.B. in Music, summa cum laude) and the University of Michigan (M.M. in Orchestral Conducting) and completed postgraduate studies at the University for Music and Performing Arts, Vienna. Dr. Mark Sholl is the performing arts coordinator for the Hilliard City Schools, is the past president of the Ohio Orchestra and String Teachers Association, and serves on the board of the Hilliard Arts Council and the ProMusica Chamber Orchestra Board, where he is the Education Committee Chair.
Last updated May 13, 2026.
• Ages: 12–18 years old
• Schedule: Weekly evening rehearsals during the season
• Price: The annual tuition cost for the Youth Orchestra is $555. The annual tuition cost for the Repertory Orchestra is $525. Financial Aid and payment plans are available for each of the ensembles upon request.
The Youth Orchestra ensemble rehearses on Wednesday evenings from 7 to 9:30 p.m., and the Repertory Orchestra ensemble rehearses on Tuesday evenings from 7 to 9:15 p.m. Performances and rehearsals take place at CAPA theaters such as the Ohio Theater and Joann Davidson Theater-Riffe Center. Members receive a CSYO Member Card that entitles them to two free tickets to each Masterworks concert throughout the current Columbus Symphony Orchestra season.
The Columbus Symphony Youth Orchestras build on nearly 75 years of music-making in Central Ohio. The Repertory Orchestra is a full, symphonic orchestra that performs advanced, unabridged classical works that expand the performance capabilities of its musicians and typically performs four times a season at various locations around central Ohio.
The program’s mission is to foster personal excellence through music, building on nearly 75 years of music-making in Central Ohio. According to the mission statement, students collaborate in a dynamic and supportive learning environment and develop skills such as leadership, self-confidence, teamwork, and resilience, and the program is dedicated to educating, encouraging, and empowering each young musician to grow both on and off the stage.
The leadership team includes Elias Miller, Assistant Conductor of the Columbus Symphony, Music Director of the Columbus Symphony Youth Orchestra, and Music Director of the Apollo Ensemble of Boston; Operations Coordinators Brian Klinger and Daphne Chek; Conductor Dr. Mark Sholl; and Assistant Conductor Dr. Jim Bates. Elias Miller holds degrees from Harvard University (A.B. in Music, summa cum laude) and the University of Michigan (M.M. in Orchestral Conducting) and completed postgraduate studies at the University for Music and Performing Arts, Vienna. Dr. Mark Sholl is the performing arts coordinator for the Hilliard City Schools, is the past president of the Ohio Orchestra and String Teachers Association, and serves on the board of the Hilliard Arts Council and the ProMusica Chamber Orchestra Board, where he is the Education Committee Chair.
Last updated May 13, 2026.
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