All orchestras and ensembles in performance / Iroquois Amphitheater / April 30, 2023
Our 65tH
Season
Musicians
300+
Scholarships
80
Counties
16
Ensembles
8
The Louisville Youth Orchestra fuels the passion and growth of young musicians through extraordinary musical experiences. LYO ensembles include 2 full orchestras, 2 string orchestras, and 4 chamber ensembles for strings, winds, brass, and percussion, as well as 2 beginning strings programs. Performances feature a range of repertoire and take place from September through May. View recent Season Highlights.
The LYO was founded in 1958 and is one of the first youth orchestras in the country.Our students are required to participate in their school ensembles (where available) and to take private music lessons.
We are an inclusive community for musical enrichment and personal growth. Who we are and what we do are driven by our Guiding Values.
Scholarships funded by our supportive patrons are available each year and awarded based on need in order to address financial barriers to membership.
There's a place for you in the LYO!
Student musicians of all ages and abilities are encouraged to audition for the 2023-2024 season. See All About Auditions to learn more, register, and access music excerpts.
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DEC
10
Holiday POPS Concert 4:00
ALL Orchestras & Ensembles
Upcoming Events
ALL LYO
ENSEMBLES
Sunday, DEC 10, 2023
HOLIDAY POPS CONCERT
4:00 - Youth Performing Arts School (YPAS) / 1517 South Second Street
A fun-filled program of seasonal favorites featuring all LYO ensembles.
FEATURING:
Symphony Orchestra
Repertory Orchestra
Concert Orchestra
Serenade Orchestra
Horizons Wind Ensemble
Horizons Flute Ensemble
Horizons Brass Ensemble
Percussion Ensemble
Tickets: $10 general admission
Recent Events
CLASSICAL CONCERT SERIES I Sunday, November 12, 2023 / Ballard High School
Serenade Orchestra, Horizons Ensembles, Percussion Ensemble
Instrumental ensembles provide an opportunity for young musicians to practice together and experience the diversity of instrumentation.
For many new members this concert was their first opportunity to perform together before a live audience.
CLASSICAL CONCERT SERIES II / Sunday NOV 19, 2023 / Brown Theater
Symphony, Repertory and Concert Orchestras
Concert Orchestra
Chris Lerner, conductor
Repertory Orchestra
Ian Elmore, conductor
Symphony Orchestra
Doug Elmore, conductor
LYO's three major orchestras performed their first classical concert of the season. It was an awesome performance before a large and enthusiastic audience.
DISCOVERY CONCERT / Monday, NOV 20 2023 / Brown Theater
Symphony Orchestra
More than 1,400 students from throughout the region attended LYO's annual Discovery Concert at the historic Brown Theater. This free concert is made possible through the support of individual patrons who remember the importance of "Making Music" concerts when they were young.
The Louisville Youth Orchestra is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and has met the Better Business Bureau’s 20 Standards for Charity Accountability. The LYO is a BBB Accredited Charity. View the LYO’s full charity report.
The LYO benefits from critical professional and/or financial support from the following:
The Kentucky Arts Council, the state arts agency, provides operating support to the LYO with state tax dollars and federal funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.
Team Kentucky established a Nonprofit Assistance Fund dedicated to direct relief payments to eligible nonprofit organizations in the Commonwealth of Kentucky providing services to Kentucky citizens.
Louisville Youth Orchestra programming is made possible in part with the support from the generous donors to the Fund For The Arts.
The LYO Presto! Strings Program is supported through a community-driven external agency grant from Metro Louisville.
The Cory Foundation supports local organizations and has shown great support of the LYO scholarship program.
The League of American Orchestras is dedicated to helping orchestras meet the challenges of the 21st century.
The Marshall Family Foundation supports nonprofits in the Louisville area through philanthropic gestures