About
The Columbus Symphony Youth Orchestras include rehearsals and performances for student musicians. The program features both the Youth Orchestra and the Repertory Orchestra, each with its own rehearsal schedule and ensemble focus.
• 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 rehearses on Wednesday evenings from 7 to 9:30 p.m. The Repertory Orchestra rehearses Tuesday evenings from 7 to 9:15 p.m. The Youth Orchestra is a 90-member orchestra with students from 19 high schools in nine counties, and it is comprised of Central Ohio’s aspiring young instrumentalists in grades 9–12. Members of the Youth Orchestra are selected through a competitive audition process held annually in May. The Repertory Orchestra emphasizes the performance of traditional orchestral literature and performs advanced, unabridged classical works.
The Columbus Symphony Youth Orchestras build on nearly 75 years of music-making in Central Ohio. Both the Youth Orchestra and Repertory Orchestra benefit from CSO Cohort Musicians, who are principal and section members of the Columbus Symphony and who work as coaches throughout their season. Students receive high-quality coaching sessions and one-on-one mentoring from Columbus Symphony musicians and have camaraderie with other musical peers from schools around Columbus. 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 mission of the Columbus Symphony Youth Orchestras is to foster personal excellence through music, building on nearly 75 years of music-making in Central Ohio. Students collaborate in a dynamic and supportive learning environment, 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 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 of the Repertory Orchestra. 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 his postgraduate studies at the University for Music and Performing Arts, Vienna. Dr. Mark Sholl is the performing arts coordinator for the Hilliard City Schools and is the past president of the Ohio Orchestra and String Teachers Association, and he serves on the board of the Hilliard Arts Council and the ProMusica Chamber Orchestra Board as Education Committee Chair.
Last updated May 14, 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 rehearses on Wednesday evenings from 7 to 9:30 p.m. The Repertory Orchestra rehearses Tuesday evenings from 7 to 9:15 p.m. The Youth Orchestra is a 90-member orchestra with students from 19 high schools in nine counties, and it is comprised of Central Ohio’s aspiring young instrumentalists in grades 9–12. Members of the Youth Orchestra are selected through a competitive audition process held annually in May. The Repertory Orchestra emphasizes the performance of traditional orchestral literature and performs advanced, unabridged classical works.
The Columbus Symphony Youth Orchestras build on nearly 75 years of music-making in Central Ohio. Both the Youth Orchestra and Repertory Orchestra benefit from CSO Cohort Musicians, who are principal and section members of the Columbus Symphony and who work as coaches throughout their season. Students receive high-quality coaching sessions and one-on-one mentoring from Columbus Symphony musicians and have camaraderie with other musical peers from schools around Columbus. 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 mission of the Columbus Symphony Youth Orchestras is to foster personal excellence through music, building on nearly 75 years of music-making in Central Ohio. Students collaborate in a dynamic and supportive learning environment, 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 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 of the Repertory Orchestra. 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 his postgraduate studies at the University for Music and Performing Arts, Vienna. Dr. Mark Sholl is the performing arts coordinator for the Hilliard City Schools and is the past president of the Ohio Orchestra and String Teachers Association, and he serves on the board of the Hilliard Arts Council and the ProMusica Chamber Orchestra Board as Education Committee Chair.
Last updated May 14, 2026.
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