Sydney Youth Orchestra


The Sydney Youth Orchestra is a youth orchestra based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia and is the premier orchestral training ground in Australia for many young musicians. Since its founding in 1973 by Peter Seymour, a legendary music educator, it has provided orchestral training to thousands of young musicians whom are required to audition annually to be placed in orchestras and ensembles best to meet their stage of development as a musician.
It is part of the larger organisation called Sydney Youth Orchestra Inc, which provides a pathway for young musicians from beginner to pre-professional. Sydney Youth Orchestra Inc is also the largest orchestral training provider in Australia. SYO receives less than 10% of its income through funding from state government grants, and 35% from student participation fees.
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Ensembles

SYO is made up of 9 ensembles split up into 4 groups and has 6 major stand-alone orchestras.

SYO Strings

  • SYO Prep
  • Stage 1 Yellow
  • Stage 1 Orange* Stage 2 Red
  • Stage 2 Blue
  • Stage 3 Silver
  • Stage 3 Purple

Orchestras

Peter Seymour Orchestra
The Peter Seymour Orchestra, named after the founder of the Sydney Youth Orchestra Association.Symphonic Wind Orchestra
The Symphonic Wind Orchestra provides training for over 70 young wind, brass and percussion musicians from across NSW.Western Sydney Youth Orchestra
Established in 2017 to support orchestra music in Western Sydney.Richard Gill Chamber Orchestra
The Richard Gill Chamber Orchestra is the springboard to the Symphonic Orchestral Program.SYO Philharmonic
SYOP is the second most senior ensemble, composed of 70 young musicians.Sydney Youth Orchestra
SYO is the top orchestra of the Sydney Youth Orchestras Inc family. Largely comprising pre-professional players aged 18-25, many of Australia’s finest musicians have performed in this orchestra as they transition into the professional music industry.

Alumni

Since 1973, SYO has over 5,500 alumni. Many of them still take musical occupations, with some also taking business and corporate fields.

Conducting Fellowship