Auditions for the 2017-2018 season will be held the final two weekends of August. Click here to register!

Welcome to YOOF!

WE HAD A GREAT 66th season!

Regular concerts for our 2016-2017 season were December 11, February 12, May 14, and May 28. During the first semester of that amazing year we enjoyed a special event with the Los Angeles Philharmonic's YOLA orchestra on October 28. Almost immediately after that our YPO orchestra traveled north to play a joint concert with the Santa Rosa Symphony Youth Orchestra. Fantastic! Then we had our absolutely amazing, sold-out Inspiration concert in December. Our soloist was Sphinx Competition Junior Division winner Maria Sanderson, playing the Barber violin concerto. All three orchestras performed—what an inspiring day! Our spring semester was perhaps even more amazing. In February guest artist Daniel Bolshoy played the Rodrigo guitar concerto at our fundraising Love Conquers All concert. And in May our younger two groups, the Chamber and Symphony orchestras, played a terrific concert together. Then on Memorial Day weekend all three orchestras and our Accent on Access violinists played an outstanding Youth Music Extravaganza concert that included super-star violinist Vadim Gluzman performing Tchaikovsky concerto AND the premiere of a specially commissioned work, Coming Home, created by four Fresno State composers, inspired by William Saroyan's The Human Comedy, featuring stories told by Valley residents, and performed by EVERYONE. AMAZING!

Want to support the Youth Orchestras? LEARN ABOUT SUPPORT HERE.

Want to JOIN the Youth Orchestras? LEARN ABOUT JOINING HERE.

FOOSA 2017! OUR SUMMER ORCHESTRA FESTIVAL RAN JUNE 11-25, 2017!

Our FOOSA concert at Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles was Friday June 23, 2017!

Learn more at foosamusic.org.

ARE YOU AN ALUM?

Alumni of the Youth Orchestras of Fresno (aka Kiwanis Youth Orchestra, Fresno Junior Philharmonic, Fresno Youth Philharmonic, Junior Phil, etc.): please complete an
ALUMNI UPDATE FORM!
We yearn to hear from you!

This just in...a snippet of video from our FOOSA Festival concert at Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, June 23:

ABOUT THE YOUTH ORCHESTRAS

The Youth Orchestras of Fresno have been a Central Valley institution since 1950, when there was a single ensemble known as the Kiwanis Youth Orchestra.

Today our three orchestras accommodate young musicians of all levels, kindergarten through college. The orchestras currently serve 260 young players from seven Central Valley counties (Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Tulare) representing a full complement of socio-economic backgrounds and ethnicities. We have an additional 65 students in our free after-school Accent on Access Violin Program. Our dynamic Music Director is Dr. Thomas Loewenheim, cellist and professor at CSU Fresno, who is known for his ability to unite through musical vision.

our 65th season was great!

Our FOOSA Festival/Fresno Summer Orchestra Academy was fantastic! In fact, our whole 65th Anniversary season was incredible! To summarize: October, Cello Mania; December, ¡Viva Mexico!; February, Love Conquers All; May, Jump for Joy and our 65th Anniversary Celebration Concert, with 40 returning alums and all three orchestras plus Accent on Access violins performing! Thanks to all who participated and/or attended!

Upcoming Concerts & Events

Hear our three orchestras in concert! All Youth Orchestras of Fresno concerts are offered free of charge, though we do hope for generous donations!

Concerts this year are October 28, December 11, February 12, May 14, and May 28. Don't miss a single one!

Click here for more information.

Auditions & Visits

Auditions are held in late August/early September each year. Placement is made at that time. Midyear auditions (placement as needed) are held in January.

Interested young musicians are welcome to sit in, with their instruments, at our Sunday rehearsals. Click here for more information.

Sponsors & Donations

There are endless great ways to support our work in the community! Make direct donations, attend concerts, support specific programs (our Accent on Access Violin Program, our Lesson Scholarship Program), buy program ads, sponsor a concert... Please click here for more information!