All orchestras and ensembles in performance / Iroquois Amphitheater / April 30, 2023
Our 65tH
Season
Musicians
320+
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.
The LYO depends on the generosity of patrons like you to make programming possible. In an organization of our size, any gift from an individual, foundation, or business can truly make an impact.
LYO is seeking a new conductor for its Repertory Orchestra. Qualified candidates are encouraged to apply by May 15. Please see Open Positions for more information.
APR
28
Pops Concert
All Orchestras & Ensembles Iroquois Aphitheater, 4:00 pm
UPCOMING EVENTS
END OF SEASON POPS CONCERT / Sunday, April 28, 2024 / 4:00 pm
All LYO Orchestras and Ensembles
Iroquois Amphitheater
1080 Amphitheater Road
Louisville, KY 40214
Ticket Information Available Soon
RECENT EVENTS
COMMUNITY CELEBRATIONS CONCERT / Thursday, February 15, 2024 / St. Francis in the Fields Episcopal Church
Symphony Orchestra
The Symphony Orchestra was joined by Kirk Rich, organist, and members of the Louisville Orchestra in a masterful program celebrating LYO's connectedness with the arts in Louisville. This collaboration was made possible by a partnership with Kentucky Performing Arts and The Gheens Foundation.
The Saint-Saens Organ Symphony concluded the program.
HOLIDAY POPS CONCERT / Sunday, December 10, 2023 / Youth Performing Arts School (YPAS)
Symphony Orchestra, Repertory Orchestra, Concert Orchestra, Serenade Orchestra,
Horizons Wind Ensemble, Flute Ensemble, Brass Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble
The LYO Holiday Pops Concert features all ensembles. This year's concert was completely sold out and was streamed live. It was a memorable performance flled with uplifting music and lighthearted surprises.
Symphony Orchestra performs Sleigh Ride, Doug Elmore, Conductor
CLASSICAL CONCERT SERIES III / Sunday March 10, 2024 / Broadway Baptist Church
Serenade and Concert Orchestras, Horizons
LYO's youngest musicians excelled before a packed audience.
CLASSICAL CONCERT SERIES IV / Sunday March 17, 2024 / Ogle Center at IUS
Symphony and Repertory Orchestras, Flute and Percussion Ensembles
Reice Hudson and Chipper Fellows performed the second movement from Mozart’s Concerto for Flute and Harp. Reice and Chipper were winners of this year's Concerto Competition and gave an uplifting performance that received a standing ovation.
LYO's graduating Seniors were recognized and commended both as masterful musicians and as exemplary students.
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 support of individual patrons who remember the importance of "Making Music" concerts when they were young.
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.
CLASSICAL CONCERT SERIES / Sunday, November 12, 2023 / Ballard High School
Serenade Orchestra, Horizons Ensembles, Percussion Ensemble
Serenade Orchestra / Robert Dixon, conductor
Instrumental ensembles provide an opportunity to practice together and experience the diversity of instrumentation. For many new members this concert was their first opportunity to perform together.
Horizons Brass Ensemble / Chris Schmidt, conductor
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