About
The Columbus Symphony Youth Orchestras program includes rehearsals and performances for student musicians in multiple ensembles. Students in the Youth Orchestra and Repertory Orchestra take part in regular ensemble rehearsals and concert performances during the season.
• Ages: 12–18 years old
• Schedule: Evening rehearsals during the week for each ensemble
• 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 build on nearly 75 years of music-making in Central Ohio. The mission of the Columbus Symphony Youth Orchestras is to foster personal excellence through music, with students collaborating in a dynamic and supportive learning environment and developing 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 Repertory Orchestra typically performs four times a season at various locations around central Ohio.
The Youth Orchestra is a 90-member orchestra with students from 19 high schools in nine counties. Members of the Youth Orchestra are selected through a competitive audition process held annually in May. The Repertory Orchestra performs advanced, unabridged classical works that expand the performance capabilities of its musicians. Both the Youth Orchestra and Repertory Orchestra benefit from a close relationship with the Columbus Symphony through CSO Cohort Musicians, who are principal and section members of the Columbus Symphony and work as coaches throughout the season. Students receive high-quality coaching sessions and one-on-one mentoring from Columbus Symphony musicians and experience camaraderie with other musical peers from schools around Columbus. The program offers a highly rigorous learning environment for students who wish to enhance their skills and playing ability. Each member receives a CSYO Member Card that entitles them to two free tickets to each Masterworks concert throughout the current Columbus Symphony Orchestra season.
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; Daphne Chek, Operations Coordinator; and Dr. Jim Bates, Assistant Conductor. 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. He has worked with numerous orchestras across the United States, including the New York Philharmonic, the Minnesota Orchestra, the Nashville Symphony, the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Albany Symphony, and has assisted conductors such as Giancarlo Guerrero, Juanjo Mena, JoAnn Falletta, Scott Yoo, Carlos Miguel Prieto, Eun Sun Kim, Paul McCreesh, Christoph König, Gemma New, Ruth Reinhardt, Erina Yashima, and David Alan Miller. Dr. Mark Sholl is the performing arts coordinator for the Hilliard City Schools, overseeing the music budget and staffing for 13 elementary schools, two 6th grade schools, three middle schools, and three high schools. He is the past president of the Ohio Orchestra and String Teachers Association, serves on the board of the Hilliard Arts Council and the ProMusica Chamber Orchestra Board as Education Committee Chair, and previously was Orchestra Director at Hilliard Davidson High School for 24 years, where he took orchestras to multiple National and State Conferences including the Midwest Clinic in Chicago, two European tours, and a tour of Canada. He also served as Orchestra and Assistant Band Director at Grove City High School for six years and won the National Sallie Mae Teaching Award.
Last updated May 13, 2026.
• Ages: 12–18 years old
• Schedule: Evening rehearsals during the week for each ensemble
• 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 build on nearly 75 years of music-making in Central Ohio. The mission of the Columbus Symphony Youth Orchestras is to foster personal excellence through music, with students collaborating in a dynamic and supportive learning environment and developing 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 Repertory Orchestra typically performs four times a season at various locations around central Ohio.
The Youth Orchestra is a 90-member orchestra with students from 19 high schools in nine counties. Members of the Youth Orchestra are selected through a competitive audition process held annually in May. The Repertory Orchestra performs advanced, unabridged classical works that expand the performance capabilities of its musicians. Both the Youth Orchestra and Repertory Orchestra benefit from a close relationship with the Columbus Symphony through CSO Cohort Musicians, who are principal and section members of the Columbus Symphony and work as coaches throughout the season. Students receive high-quality coaching sessions and one-on-one mentoring from Columbus Symphony musicians and experience camaraderie with other musical peers from schools around Columbus. The program offers a highly rigorous learning environment for students who wish to enhance their skills and playing ability. Each member receives a CSYO Member Card that entitles them to two free tickets to each Masterworks concert throughout the current Columbus Symphony Orchestra season.
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; Daphne Chek, Operations Coordinator; and Dr. Jim Bates, Assistant Conductor. 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. He has worked with numerous orchestras across the United States, including the New York Philharmonic, the Minnesota Orchestra, the Nashville Symphony, the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Albany Symphony, and has assisted conductors such as Giancarlo Guerrero, Juanjo Mena, JoAnn Falletta, Scott Yoo, Carlos Miguel Prieto, Eun Sun Kim, Paul McCreesh, Christoph König, Gemma New, Ruth Reinhardt, Erina Yashima, and David Alan Miller. Dr. Mark Sholl is the performing arts coordinator for the Hilliard City Schools, overseeing the music budget and staffing for 13 elementary schools, two 6th grade schools, three middle schools, and three high schools. He is the past president of the Ohio Orchestra and String Teachers Association, serves on the board of the Hilliard Arts Council and the ProMusica Chamber Orchestra Board as Education Committee Chair, and previously was Orchestra Director at Hilliard Davidson High School for 24 years, where he took orchestras to multiple National and State Conferences including the Midwest Clinic in Chicago, two European tours, and a tour of Canada. He also served as Orchestra and Assistant Band Director at Grove City High School for six years and won the National Sallie Mae Teaching Award.
Last updated May 13, 2026.
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