The Symphony Program consists of three orchestras: Youth Symphony I (YSI), Youth Symphony II (YSII), and Concert Orchestra (CO). String, woodwind, brass and percussion students go through a competitive audition process to be a member of these ensembles. Audition information is normally announced in April.
Youth Symphony I (YSI)
Youth Symphony I is the most advanced of our seven orchestras, and is one of the finest youth symphonies in the country. Among its accomplishments, YSI has been a Finalist in the Na Hoku Hanohano Awards, performed with Midori, and was featured on From The Top with host Christopher O’Riley.
YSI is typically composed of about 100 students, grades 9-12, from dozens of public, home, and independent schools across Oahu and Maui. They rehearsed more than 130 hours and performed 10 concerts, including a Side-by-Side with the professional Hawaii Symphony Orchestra.
Conducted by Joseph Stepec
Youth Symphony II (YSII)
Youth Symphony II is the second most advanced of our seven orchestras. Youth Symphony II is typically composed of 90-100 students, grades 8-12, from dozens of schools across Oahu and Maui. They rehearse more than 120 hours and perform 6-7 concerts each season.
Conducted by Mr. Elton Masaki and Mrs. Susan Ochi-Onishi.
Concert Orchestra (CO)
Concert Orchestra is the third most-advanced of our seven orchestras and is the entry-level to our Symphony Program. Concert Orchestra is typically composed of 90-100 students, grades 6-12, from dozens of schools across Oahu. They rehearse more than 110 hours and perform 5 concerts, including one of our Listen & Learn concerts!
Conducted by Ms. Hannah Watanabe and Mr. Wayne Fanning.
Rehearsal Locations
Due to the pandemic our rehearsal locations and times are different from a typical season. Please see a sample schedule below of a normal season:
| Orchestra | Concert Orchestra | Youth Symphony II | Youth Symphony I |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rehearsal Location | Niu Valley Middle School 310 Halemaumau Street Honolulu, HI 96821 | Kaimuki Middle School 631 18th Avenue Honolulu, HI 96816 | UH Music Department 2411 Dole Street Honolulu, HI 96822 |
| Rehearsal Schedule | Winds/Percussion Sectional 11:30 am – 12:30 pm Full Orchestra Rehearsal 12:30 – 2:00 pm Strings Sectional 2:00 – 3:00 pm | Winds/Percussion Sectional & Strings Sectional 11:30 am – 12:30 pm Full Orchestra Rehearsal 12:30 – 2:00 pm | Winds/Percussion Sectional 11:00 am – 12:00 pm Full Orchestra Rehearsal 12:00 – 2:00 pm Strings Sectional 2:00 – 3:00 pm |
Financial Aid
HYS believes in making music education affordable and equitable for all. Thanks to generous donations and grants, we are able to offer financial aid packages for qualified students. Scholarships for private lessons are also available. All financial information will be kept confidential and used only for financial aid decision-making purposes. Please email financialaid@hiyouthsymphony.org for more information.
Neighbor Island Students
Travel Assistance Available
Students from all islands are encouraged to audition and apply. In addition to Financial Aid and Scholarships, HYS has funds to assist with neighbor island students with travel expenses (airfare and ground transportation) for rehearsals and concerts.
Because we understand that coming every weekend to Oahu would be impossible, we will work with neighbor island students on a case-by-case basis to create reasonable attendance policies that minimize hardship, while maximizing learning, participation, and artistic excellence.