Columbus Symphony Youth Orchestras
Columbus Symphony Orchestra, 55 East State Street, Columbus, OH 43215
About
The Columbus Symphony Youth Orchestras program includes performances, rehearsals, coaching sessions, and one-on-one mentoring with Columbus Symphony musicians. Students take part in education concerts, pops concerts, community concerts, in-school concerts, young people’s concerts, family concerts, holiday pops, Popcorn Pops, Picnic with the Pops programs, Summer Night concerts, and an annual concert in Ash Cave. The Youth Orchestra is a 90-member ensemble with students from 19 high schools in nine counties, and members are selected through a competitive audition process held annually in May.
• 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 Columbus Symphony Youth Orchestras foster personal excellence through music and build on nearly 75 years of music-making in Central Ohio. Students collaborate in a dynamic and supportive learning environment and develop skills such as leadership, self-confidence, teamwork, and resilience. The program is dedicated to educating, encouraging, and empowering each young musician to grow both on and off the stage.
The Youth Orchestra rehearses on Wednesday evenings from 7 to 9:30 p.m., and the Repertory Orchestra rehearses Tuesday evenings from 7 to 9:15 p.m. The Repertory Orchestra is comprised of students in grades 7–10, emphasizes the performance of traditional orchestral literature, and performs advanced, unabridged classical works. The Repertory Orchestra typically performs four times a season at various locations around central Ohio.
Members of both the Youth Orchestra and Repertory Orchestra receive high-quality coaching sessions and one-on-one mentoring from Columbus Symphony musicians, including CSO Cohort Musicians who are principal and section members of the Columbus Symphony and work as coaches throughout the season. Participants also 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’s Nationwide Picnic with the Pops and Popcorn Pops series are held at the Columbus Bicentennial Pavilion/Columbus Commons.
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; Brian Klinger, Operations Coordinator; Dr. Mark Sholl, Conductor; Dr. Jim Bates, Assistant Conductor; and Daphne Chek, Operations Coordinator. Elias Miller holds degrees from Harvard University and the University of Michigan, completed postgraduate studies at the University for Music and Performing Arts, Vienna, and has worked with orchestras such as the New York Philharmonic, the Minnesota Orchestra, the Nashville Symphony, the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Albany Symphony. Dr. Mark Sholl is the performing arts coordinator for the Hilliard City Schools, overseeing the music budget and staffing for multiple elementary, 6th grade, middle, and high 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 as their Education Committee Chair.
Audition requirements include one short 3–5 minute excerpt of a solo piece, etude, or concerto, and auditionees are instructed to provide the indicated excerpt for their instrument in their audition video. Percussion auditionees are instructed to email [email protected] for further instructions.
Last updated August 15, 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 Columbus Symphony Youth Orchestras foster personal excellence through music and build on nearly 75 years of music-making in Central Ohio. Students collaborate in a dynamic and supportive learning environment and develop skills such as leadership, self-confidence, teamwork, and resilience. The program is dedicated to educating, encouraging, and empowering each young musician to grow both on and off the stage.
The Youth Orchestra rehearses on Wednesday evenings from 7 to 9:30 p.m., and the Repertory Orchestra rehearses Tuesday evenings from 7 to 9:15 p.m. The Repertory Orchestra is comprised of students in grades 7–10, emphasizes the performance of traditional orchestral literature, and performs advanced, unabridged classical works. The Repertory Orchestra typically performs four times a season at various locations around central Ohio.
Members of both the Youth Orchestra and Repertory Orchestra receive high-quality coaching sessions and one-on-one mentoring from Columbus Symphony musicians, including CSO Cohort Musicians who are principal and section members of the Columbus Symphony and work as coaches throughout the season. Participants also 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’s Nationwide Picnic with the Pops and Popcorn Pops series are held at the Columbus Bicentennial Pavilion/Columbus Commons.
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; Brian Klinger, Operations Coordinator; Dr. Mark Sholl, Conductor; Dr. Jim Bates, Assistant Conductor; and Daphne Chek, Operations Coordinator. Elias Miller holds degrees from Harvard University and the University of Michigan, completed postgraduate studies at the University for Music and Performing Arts, Vienna, and has worked with orchestras such as the New York Philharmonic, the Minnesota Orchestra, the Nashville Symphony, the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Albany Symphony. Dr. Mark Sholl is the performing arts coordinator for the Hilliard City Schools, overseeing the music budget and staffing for multiple elementary, 6th grade, middle, and high 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 as their Education Committee Chair.
Audition requirements include one short 3–5 minute excerpt of a solo piece, etude, or concerto, and auditionees are instructed to provide the indicated excerpt for their instrument in their audition video. Percussion auditionees are instructed to email [email protected] for further instructions.
Last updated August 15, 2026.
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