We create a musical community that fosters artistry and friendship in an environment that promotes discipline, cooperation and leadership. We prepare our student musicians to become active participants in the arts community and we achieve these goals in partnership with parents, teachers and schools throughout the Greater Omaha area.
Musicians interested in participating in one of our season-long orchestra ensembles (YS, YP or YCS) submit audition recordings (deadline June 1 for priority submission) with rehearsals starting in September.
Late auditions are accepted throughout the year based on orchestra availability. Contact the OAYO office for more information.
OAYO offers an 8-week program, Prelude Strings, that meets in February and March.
OAYO musicians receive:
- Weekly instruction from one of our OAYO conductors
- Sectional coaching tailored for their instrument from professional musicians and local music educators
- Weekly coaching and individualized instruction for musicians in the Chamber Music Program
All of OAYO 's ensembles (unless otherwise noted) meet on Sundays at the University of Nebraska at Omaha's Strauss Performing Arts Center.
Youth Symphony (YS)
Youth Symphony is a full orchestra (strings/winds/brass/percussion) that performs three concerts per season.
Performances include an annual side-by-side concert with the Omaha Symphony at the Holland Center. YS works regularly with
local professional musicians in sectionals and performs masterpieces from the standard orchestral repertoire at a high school proficiency level.
This ensemble performs masterpieces from the standard orchestral repertoire at a high school proficiency level.
- YS is typically open to musicians who are in high school (grades 9-12) and is the next step up from Youth Philharmonic.
Rehearsals: Sunday afternoons from 1:30 to 3:30 P.M. at UNO Strauss Performing Arts Center. Meets September - May.
Conductor: Dr. Matthew Brooks
Youth Philharmonic (YP)
Youth Philharmonic is a full orchestra (strings/winds/brass/percussion) that performs two concerts and works with the Omaha Symphony in the Music Mentor program. The Youth Philharmonic participates in regular sectionals with local professional musicians. Meets September - March.
- Performs pieces from the standard orchestral repertoire while refining orchestral techniques.
- Typically open to musicians in grades 7-12 who demonstrate an expanded set of abilities on their instrument.
- For strings, Youth Philharmonic is the next step up from Youth Concert Strings. For winds/brass/percussion, it is the first step.
Rehearsals: Sunday evenings from 4 to 6 P.M. at UNO Strauss Performing Arts Center.
Conductor: Debbie Martinez
Youth Concert Strings (YCS)
Youth Concert Strings is an all-strings orchestra that performs two formal concerts per season and participates in regular sectionals with local professional musicians. Youth Concert Strings also has a side-by-side rehearsal with Youth Symphony musicians as mentors. Meets September - March.
- Performs intermediate orchestral pieces.
- String musicians typically in grades 4-8.
- Youth Concert Strings is the next step up from Prelude Strings.
Rehearsals: Sunday evenings from 4:15 to 6 P.M. at UNO Strauss Performing Arts Center.
Conductor: Patricia Ritchie
Chamber Music Program (CME)
The chamber music program is open to any member of the audition-based orchestras. OAYO chamber music ensembles present a formal concert each season and have the opportunity to perform at concerts and venues outside of the regular OAYO season.
For over 30 years, OAYO's chamber music program has helped develop young musicians into stronger performers. Chamber music is a team effort that requires each musician's personal commitment to their individual parts, as well as the ensemble.
Musicians will rehearse in a small group (as a trio, quartet, quintet, etc.) with a professional musician coaching their group. They will stay in the same group for the entire season, so this is a great way to get to know other musicians in your orchestra and work closely with a professional musician each week!
Rehearsals: Times vary depending on musician's orchestra membership.
Director: Sophia Potter
Prelude Strings (PS)
Over the course of eight weeks, Prelude Strings — the introductory ensemble to OAYO for grades 4 to 7— will ignite the talents of young musicians from the entire region. Students will rehearse with top professionals to prepare a concert.
Past concerts have been performed at the UNO Strauss Performing Arts Center and Sharon North Jones Studios, and The Kroc Center
Rehearsals: TBD
Director: Patricia Ritchie