Youth Orchestra provides an advanced orchestral experience for talented student musicians. This 75+ member full orchestra offers opportunities to perform music from Beethoven to Dvořák to contemporary composers. Rehearsals include regular sectionals led by NJYS coaches. Youth Orchestra performs three concerts and the Playathon Festival each year.
As the flagship ensemble of the New Jersey Youth Symphony (NJYS), the Youth Symphony (YS) gathers the most talented student musicians from across the state, serving as dynamic music ambassadors through international tours and performances at renowned venues such as NJPAC, Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and others in Europe. YS achieved first place at the Summa Cum Laude International Youth Music Festival, and we take pride in our diverse repertoire, which spans from orchestral masterworks to commissioned pieces representing many underrepresented composers. Collaboration is central to our mission as we join forces with other performing arts organizations and artists. Many of our members excel in auditions for the New Jersey All-State Orchestra, and we support their musical journeys at top conservatories. With four Signature concerts each year and our cherished Playathon concert, we aim to explore endless possibilities for every musician and foster their love for music in a rigorous, yet inclusive and supportive environment.
Philharmonia is the first NJYS ensemble that combines all instrument families—brass, woodwinds, strings, and percussion—in a full symphony. This ensemble introduces students to performing rich symphonic repertoire and provides joy and excitement of high-level full orchestra training. Rehearsals include regular sectionals taught by NJYS coaches. Philharmonia performs two concerts and the Playathon Festival each year.
In Sinfonia, experienced young string players continue to develop their performance skillset in preparation for further advancement into a full orchestra. Students work together to develop the nuances of style and phrasing to create a more refined, mature orchestral sound. To accomplish this, the ensemble explores a combination of standard string repertoires from major composers as well as works written for advanced student orchestras. Members may also participate in doubling on viola and bass. Sinfonia performs two concerts and the Playathon Festival each year.
Designed for the advancing string player, Concertino Strings focuses on refining orchestral fundamentals through the study of string orchestra repertoire. Music theory, bowing techniques, musicality, rehearsal techniques, performance etiquette, and tuning are areas of focus. Members may also participate in doubling on viola or bass. Concertino Strings performs in two concerts and the Playathon Festival each year.
Primo Strings is the first large ensemble for young musicians who read music. It sets the foundation for success in future orchestral endeavors. Emphasis is placed on developing skills such as basic orchestral rehearsal and performance technique, following a conductor, bowing techniques, blend, balance, musicality, and music theory fundamentals.
Exploring deeply the unique qualities of clarinet playing, this ensemble performs everything from new commissions to the landmarks of the Classical repertoire, challenging and inspiring students to reach their full potential in ensemble playing. Students have the opportunity to play Eb Soprano, Alto, and Bass Clarinets. Clarinet Ensemble performs in three concerts and the Playathon Festival each year.
NJYS Chamber Winds/Brass emphasizes the fundamentals of good technique, including breathing, air support, sound production, tuning, embouchure, posture, and basic musicianship skills. Students work in chamber-sized ensembles, receiving focused instruction from highly skilled coaches who hone instrument-specific techniques in an educational and enjoyable environment. Chamber Winds/Brass rehearses for 75 minutes each week and performs twice a year, in addition to participating in the NJYS Playathon concert.