top of page

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.

???  Frequently Asked Questions

 DEC 

10

Holiday POPS Concert 4:00
ALL Orchestras & Ensembles 

Upcoming Events

    ALL LYO
ENSEMBLES

RockinTheHolidays.jpg

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

CON230220.jpg

Concert Orchestra

Chris Lerner, conductor

REP230222.jpg

Repertory Orchestra

Ian Elmore, conductor

SYM0230220.jpg

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

SYM112023-cropped.jpg

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:

KYArtsCouncilLogohighres.jpeg

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 blue.png

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.

FFtA-Logo-Orange high res.jpeg

Louisville Youth Orchestra programming is made possible in part with the support from the generous donors to the Fund For The Arts.

metro louisville.png

The LYO Presto! Strings Program is supported through a community-driven external agency grant from Metro Louisville.

Cory Foundation.jpg

The Cory Foundation supports local organizations and has shown great support of the LYO scholarship program. 

League image.jpeg

The League of American Orchestras is dedicated to helping orchestras meet the challenges of the 21st century.

Marshall png.png

The Marshall Family Foundation supports nonprofits in the Louisville area through philanthropic gestures

bottom of page