The Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra Program (YOP) is a program for students that introduces them into the world of the symphony. YOP is sponsored by the Richmond Symphony.
 The Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra was founded in the spring of 1962 by Edgar Schenkman and is the oldest youth orchestra in the state of Virginia. It was a partnership between the Richmond Symphony Orchestra and Richmond Public Schools. The schools provided the venues, students, and music stands, and the Richmond Symphony provided Edgar Schenkman and the rest of the artistic leadership. While originally only one orchestra, by 1981 had expanded to three orchestras, the original Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra, the Richmond Symphony Youth Concert Orchestra, and the Richmond Symphony String Sinfonietta. In 2004, a fourth ensemble was added, the Richmond Symphony Camerata Strings. In 2008, the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra played at the Kennedy Center with the Richmond Symphony Orchestra to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Richmond Symphony. YOP created a fifth ensemble, the Wind Ensemble, in 2018 for young wind players looking to explore orchestra literature.
 The orchestras accept students up through 12th grade.
All five ensembles meet weekly and participate in coaching and masterclasses by Richmond Symphony musicians, mentoring, and other activities. The orchestras are the top orchestral training ensembles of central Virginia.
 String Sinfonietta: Conducted by Christie-Jo Adams. The String Sinfonietta is an all-string ensemble for young musicians, originally conducted by Joseph Wargo from 1983 to 2004.
 Camerata Strings: Conducted by Rebecca Jilcott. Camerata Strings is an all-string ensemble.
 Wind Ensemble: Conducted by Christopher Moseley. Wind Ensemble our newest ensemble in the Youth Orchestra Program and helps to bridge the gap for beginning wind players who are looking to join our youth orchestras.
 Youth Concert Orchestra (YCO): Conducted by Sandy Goldie. YOP's lower-level full orchestra.
 Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra (RSYO): Conducted by Richmond Symphony Orchestra Assistant Conductor, Daniel Myssyk. RSYO is YOP's top level full orchestra.
 All students must participate in their school band or orchestra program.
 String Sinfonietta:  No formal audition, but required to know:
 C, D, and G major scales, 2 octave preferred (1 octave for bass).
 All Strings: 1st position notes on all strings
 Violins: basic 3rd position on the E string
 Cellos: basic 2 ½  and 3rd position on the A string
 Basses: basic 2 ½ and 3rd position on the G string (high C/D area)
 Camerata Strings: Entry by audition.
 Violin: G major, 3 octaves
 Viola: C major, 3 octaves
 Cello: C major 3 octaves
 Bass: F major 2 octaves
 Must be about 3 minutes and best demonstrate the abilities of the student. Equivalent to VBODA or ASTA level 3-4                

Wind Ensemble: No formal audition.  Students are expected to be familiar with the following:
 Youth Concert Orchestra (YCO): Audition Requirements:
 Scale Requirements - (Quarter = 120)
 Strings Scales of your choice,
 Violin: G, A, B-flat, B & C major scales, 3 octaves
g, a, b, & c melodic minor scales, 3 octaves
 Viola: C, D, E-flat, E & F major scales, 3 octaves
c, d, e, & f melodic minor scales, 3 octaves
 Cello: C, D, E-flat, E & F major scales, 3 octaves
c, d, e, & f melodic minor scales, 3 octaves
 Bass: E, F, G & A major scales, 2 octaves
e, f, g, & a melodic minor scales, 2 octaves
 
Winds: All major/melodic minor scales up to 4 sharps/flats, 2 octaves Chromatic scale, 2 octaves preferred
 Percussion: Scales on a mallet instrument. Ability to play a roll (pp-ff) on snare drum
 Viola players should be prepared to read in treble clef. Cello, bassoon, and trombone players should be prepared to read in tenor clef
 
Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra (RSYO): Audition Requirements:
 Harp - Scales of your choice, 4 octaves hands together
 Strings - All major scales – 3 octaves (Bass: 2 octaves)
Melodic minor scales up to 4 sharps/flats, 3 octaves (Bass: 2 octaves)
 Winds - All major/melodic minor scales up to 4 sharps/flats, 2 octaves
Chromatic scale, 2 octaves preferred
 Percussion - Scales on a mallet instrument
Ability to play a roll (pp-ff) on snare drum
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 Viola players should be prepared to read in TREBLE clef
 Cello, bassoon, and trombone players should be prepared to read in TENOR clef
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 Applicants will prepare an orchestral excerpt relevant to his/her instrument (downloaded from website). Trumpets and horns must be prepared to transpose.
 When to audition?
 Auditions for new students trying to enter the program and current YOP students looking to audition up into a new ensemble are held yearly in late May and early June.
 Audition dates for the 20-21 YOP season are scheduled for:
 Halbruner, Aimee. "Slideshow of RSYO at the Kennedy Center." E-mail to Kristin Grasberger.3 June 2008.
 "Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestras." Richmond Symphony. 2008. Richmond Symphony Orchestra. 8 Jun 2008 <http://www.richmondsymphony.com/youth_orch.asp>.