Developing character, leadership, discipline and excellence through music. Metropolitan Youth Symphony was started in 1982 with just 150 members in one full symphony and two string orchestras. We offer our over 300 families one full symphony orchestra, four string orchestras, a wind ensemble, and a variety of enrichment programs including Jazz Lab, and beginning strings for homeschool families.

Founded in 1982, Metropolitan Youth Symphony (MYS) is one of the valley’s most established youth education programs dedicated to professional symphonic training for instrumental students. Members come from all over the Phoenix Metropolitan area and from a wide variety of economic and cultural backgrounds to perform with the MYS ensembles.

Each week during the season these young musicians spend a rehearsal studying and performing outstanding literature with the finest of music educators and conductors in Arizona.

In addition to our symphonic programs, we offer a fiddlers’ program for our Division 1, 2 and 3 members. The MYS Fiddlers perform at public and private functions throughout the valley as well as our final MYS concert in the Mesa Arts Center, Ikeda Theater. The MYS Honors Quartet Program is an additional offering to our most advanced string members from Division 1. This unique season-long quartet study program emphasizes chamber ensemble performance skills.

WHAT WE DO

Set high standards in repertoire and performance level
Push musicians beyond the school repertoire and give them to opportunity to learn additional music
Work with professional trained instrumentalists to improve technique outside of the classroom.
Encourage winds and brass to improve projection and tone as an orchestral musician.
Educate talented and committed students in a professional setting
Amaze audiences with high quality performances
Perform regularly in the highly celebrated Mesa Arts Center, Ikeda Theater.
Give proven young musicians the opportunity to advance to the next level

As these fine young people perform and progress along with their peers, they represent you and your school programs as members of one of our valley’s most established youth organizations.

OUR HISTORY

In the spring of 1982, Mesa Public Schools’ Wayne Roederer and interested parents and music educators from the East Valley began exploring the potential for developing a youth orchestra. Their goal was to provide a challenging program of excellence in orchestral music for young school musicians through the ninth grade. The first Metropolitan Youth Symphony season was launched that very year as more than 150 young people participated in the September auditions. The gala premiere concert, November 10, 1982, featured two strings orchestras and one full symphony orchestra.

The growth of the Metropolitan Youth Symphony has been impressive. Currently, in our 42nd season, the members of MYS are divided into three string orchestras, one full symphonic orchestra, and a symphonic wind ensemble. Auditionees through the 12th grade are placed by performance ability in the appropriate ensemble. As they progress, they can move into more advanced ensembles. Our members attend weekly rehearsals and perform in four formal concerts each season. In addition to our large ensembles, MYS offers a Jazz Lab, an Honors Quartets program, and a homeschool beginning instrumental program.

Metropolitan Youth Symphony is widely recognized in the Phoenix metropolitan area and is known for musical excellence. In partnership with the schools, local professional musicians, community outreach programs, and a vibrant board of directors, MYS encourages participation from every district and school program in the valley. We are proud to offer a unique and high-quality musical experience for youth seldom found at any school level. The ensembles have been invited to perform in a variety of locations including Phoenix Symphony Hall, the Mesa City Amphitheater, Disneyland, the Arizona Music Educators Association annual conference, and multiple performances in Washington, D.C. Our Division 1 members received the honor of performing at New York City’s famed Carnegie Hall under the direction of Wayne Roederer, founder and current Musical Director Laureate.

MYS ensembles are pleased to perform in the Mesa Arts Center as one of the Mesa Arts Center’s founding resident companies.

OUR MISSION STATEMENT

To educate young instrumental musicians in the art of performance to develop character, discipline, leadership, cultural awareness, and a strong commitment to excellence; enabling MYS to contribute to the Valley of the Sun's musical heritage and create a higher level of appreciation for the performing arts.

Orchestra, Band, Jazz, Classical and Pop music, K-12 instrumental

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