The orchestra, founded in April of 1996, is open to public, private, and home-schooled students across St. Charles County and the surrounding region. Currently, nearly 100 young musicians, grades two through college, are members. There are four separate ensembles, grouped by instrument, age and skill level. The ensembles consist of the Symphony Strings, Symphony Winds and Percussion, Cadenza Strings, and Primo Strings. The Symphony Strings and Symphony Winds and Percussion perform together as the Symphony Orchestra.
Placement is by audition.
The mission of the St. Charles County Youth Orchestra is to provide an opportunity for young musicians to achieve musical competence by studying and playing orchestral literature and performing before audiences. Provide a variety of performance opportunities. Cultivate excellence in performance. Develop greater interest in music and performance among a broad base of area youth. Specific goals include unison playing and bowing, intonation and pitch adjustment, beginning independent sections, and musical elements.