Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestras(SYSO) is the largest youth symphony organization in the United States. Founded in 1942, we now serve over 1,100 diverse students a year through four full orchestras, three summer programs, and partnerships with local public schools. Through our financial aid programs, we make sure that every talented child can receive an excellent music education, regardless of their financial resources.

The SYSO-in-the-Schools serves over 170 students by partnering with 13 Seattle-area public schools.

The Marrowstone Summer Festivals provide intensive learning environments to over 500 students each summer.

The Academic-Year Orchestra Program serves over 470 students through four full orchestras:

Symphonette Orchestra:
Kate Labiak, Conductor
Symphonette Orchestraserves as a wonderful arena for younger, less-experienced musicians to gain valuable performance experience. The repertoire is varied and serves as an introduction to orchestral technique and style. Students in the Symphonette Orchestra typically advance to the Debut Symphony Orchestra.

Debut Symphony Orchestra:
Mark Adamo, Conductor
Debut Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1946 as a training group for the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra. The group remains SYSO's largest. Students in the Debut Symphony Orchestra typically advance to the Junior Symphony Orchestra.

Junior Symphony Orchestra:
Marcus Tsutakawa, Conductor
The Junior Symphony Orchestra is a approximately the same size as the Seattle Youth Symphony. Repertoire is extremely varied and challenging. Students in the Junior Symphony Orchestra typically feed into the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra.

Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra
Stephen Radcliffe, Conductor & SYSO Music Director
Comprised of our most advanced players, the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra, founded in 1942 by Francis Aranyi, is SYSO's flagship orchestra and one of the premier youth orchestras in the United States. Repertoire includes a variety of styles from early music to world premieres. The orchestra performs three regular season concerts in Benaroya Hall, home of the Seattle Symphony.