The San Jose Youth Symphony (SJYS) is one of the oldest and finest youth orchestras in the West Coast of the U.S. Founded over five decades ago as part of the former San Jose Symphony, SJYS has a rich tradition of musical performance and education.

The mission of the San Jose Youth Symphony is to provide the youth of our culturally diverse community with exceptional orchestral music education and performance experiences that foster and encourage the study, appreciation and love of music throughout the entire community.

The musicians of the San Jose Youth Symphony, ranging in age from 8 to 21, are chosen from more than 400 applicants in annual auditions. The SJYS comprises eight distinct performing ensembles: two full orchestras, two wind ensembles, a flute choir, a percussion ensemble and two string ensembles. Each ensemble performs three concerts every season in San Jose. SJYS ensembles rehearse weekly from September through early June. In addition, every August all musicians participate in a weeklong summer camp. In addition to their work with SJYS artistic staff, each ensemble receives sectional coaching from professional musicians.

As part of its outreach activities, SJYS offers after school instrument lessons at four local schools in San Jose through its Music Matters project.

The Philharmonic Orchestra is the premiere ensemble of SJYS, led by Music Director and Conductor Yair Samet, former Associate Conductor of the San Jose Symphony Orchestra. Membership is reserved for outstanding players who demonstrate strong musicianship and technical ability, and are capable of the discipline necessary to perform in a pre-professional orchestral setting.

The Philharmonic Orchestra performs its three subscription concerts at the California Theater in downtown San Jose. In addition, the orchestra performs numerous concerts to various organizations across the community and numerous city events, among them an annual concert at Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph as part of the “Season of Hope” Holiday performance series, City Hall events, the San Jose Holiday Parade, the Rotary and the Kiwanis Clubs, Santa Clara University Christmas Celebration, Stanford and the Los Gatos Hospitals, the Child’s Advocate, senior homes and homeless shelters.

SJYS holds an annual Young Artist Competition (YAC) sponsored by San Jose Symphony Foundation. The YAC is open exclusively to Philharmonic Orchestra members. Winners of the competition perform with the orchestra in its subscription series.  Select musicians from the orchestra have the opportunity to play in chamber music groups, which perform at various events throughout the year.

The Philharmonic Orchestra has collaborated with both local and international leading arts groups, among them the San Jose Symphony Orchestra, the Asian Youth Orchestra, the Ireland National Youth Orchestra, the Okayama Youth Orchestra, San Jose Taiko, Firebird Youth Chinese Orchestra, Mariachi Cobre, San Jose Children’s Musical Theater, and the Latin Jazz Ensemble from San Jose State University.
Approximately every other year the Philharmonic Orchestra undertakes an international concert tour. In the summer of 2005, the Philharmonic Orchestra performed six concerts in Spain with world renowned pianist Jon Nakamatsu, culminating in a performance at one of Europe’s most prestigious musical events – the Granada Music Festival. In summer 2007 the Philharmonic Orchestra performed five concerts on their Eastern European concert tour, performing in some of Europe’s most prestigious concert halls, among them the Dvorak Concert Hall and the Liszt Academy of Music.

Past international concert tours have included Ireland, Belgium, The Netherlands, Germany, Austria, and Japan. The Philharmonic Orchestra has performed in some of the world’s most prestigious concert halls, among them the Mozartsaal in Stuttgart, Germany, the Music Conservatory Hall in Brussels, Belgium, the famed Chofu Green Hall in Tokyo, the Shimin Kaykan Civic Hall in Okayama, and the Archaic Hall in Amagasaki, Japan. The finale of the 2001 International Tour was a performance for a sold-out audience at Dublin’s National Concert Hall.
Joined performances on tours have included the Ireland National Youth Symphony Orchestra, the Music Conservatory Orchestra of Munich, Germany, the Okayama Youth Symphony Orchestra, the Okayama University orchestra, and the Archaic Wind Symphony in Amagasaki, Japan.