Kalamazoo Junior Symphony Orchestras

08/28/2026

The Kalamazoo Junior Symphony Orchestra is holding a second round of auditions for the 2026–2027 Prep Strings season!

📅 Audition Dates:
Tuesday, September 8
Friday, September 11

📍 Crescendo Academy of Music
359 S. Kalamazoo Mall, Kalamazoo, MI

🎶 Two ensembles are available:
• Concert Orchestra — Younger
• Symphonic Strings — Advanced

Auditions include a solo piece, scales, and sightreading, with requirements tailored to each ensemble and instrument.

Register by Tuesday, September 1!
https://forms.gle/FiNeqdoBaxdXeuv78

Prep Strings rehearses Monday evenings at First Congregational Church, with the season beginning September 14, 2026.

Need-based scholarships are available for both member dues and private lessons.

Come be part of the KJSO family and make music with other young musicians from throughout the Kalamazoo area!

🎻 We look forward to hearing you!

07/05/2026

The KJSO played to an absolutely packed house- standing room only! The students played their very best. We are so proud of you all!

07/04/2026

We had a great concert in Sarajevo at the Bosnian Cultural Center with a wonderful turnout! Among the audience members were students and faculty from a local arts high school. Today we arrive in Belgrade!

Fun fact: the Bosnian Cultural Center is known for hosting an Iron Maiden concert during the siege of Sarajevo, as documented in the film “Scream for Me, Sarajevo”.

07/01/2026

Summoning an audience to our concert in Mostar!

07/01/2026

We are ready for our concert in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina! 🇧🇦 🎶 🤩

06/25/2026

Thank you to Kalamazoo Musicians AFM Local 228 for the shout out and to Encore Magazine for profiling our Executive Director and promoting our Bon Voyage Concert!

05/27/2026

Today is the last day to register for KJSO & Prep Strings auditions!

Auditions will take place on Saturday, June 6 and Sunday, June 7 at Kalamazoo College.

Unavailable on June 6-7? We would still love to hear you! Please fill out the appropriate registration form and we will be in touch to schedule an individual, in-person audition.

KJSO Audition Registration: https://kjso.org/auditions/kjso/
Prep Strings Audition Registration: https://kjso.org/auditions/prep-strings-audition-form/ See less

Audition Registration is now open for the KJSO and the Prep Strings! Auditions will take place on June 6-7 at Kalamazoo College. View audition requirements and register for auditions at KJSO.org

05/20/2026

REGISTRATION DEADLINE EXTENDED! Register to audition for the Kalamazoo Junior Symphony or Preparatory Strings by Wednesday, May 27. Students will be contacted with an audition time no later than Friday, May 29. Auditions will take place on Saturday, June 6 and Sunday, June 7 at Kalamazoo College.

Unavailable on June 6-7? We would still love to hear you! Please fill out the appropriate registration form and we will be in touch to schedule an individual, in-person audition.

KJSO Audition Registration: https://kjso.org/auditions/kjso/
Prep Strings Audition Registration: https://kjso.org/auditions/prep-strings-audition-form/

Audition Registration is now open for the KJSO and the Prep Strings! Auditions will take place on June 6-7 at Kalamazoo College. View audition requirements and register for auditions at KJSO.org

05/15/2026

We are so excited for this weekend’s Stulberg International String Competition! There have been so many amazing and inspiring performances in today’s semi-finals already.

Did you know:

🎻 Julius Stulberg conducted the KJSO for 33 years.

🎵 KJSO Alumna Anne Francis Bayless is one of this year’s Competition Judges! In addition to judging the semi-finals on Friday and the finals on Saturday evening, Anne will provide masterclasses on Saturday and Sunday morning.

🎶 Each of the Community Masterclasses on Saturday, May 16 will feature multiple KJSO members: violin, viola, and cello! Be sure to join us at Dalton Center from 9 AM-noon.

🏅 The Bronze Medalist will perform with the KJSO on Sunday, February 14, 2027. Attend the finals on Saturday at 7:30 pm in order to be one of the first to learn the results!

🗓️ View the full schedule of events here: https://stulberg.org/events/. Hope to see you there!

05/11/2026

Training for Orchestra is an opportunity for students to hone their ensemble skills over the summer! The perfect way to prepare for participation in the KJSO Training Orchestra or Concert Orchestra, this course is hosted by the Crescendo Academy of Music and taught by the Director of the Preparatory Strings and KJSO Alumna, Audrey Lipsey.

Class meets June 16-July 28 on Tuesdays 4:30–6:00 pm. The total cost is $150 and financial aid is available.

Summer program spotlight: Training for Orchestra

This class is for students with one to two years of experience playing a stringed instrument. In this introductory ensemble, students will learn basic orchestral techniques to help prepare them for school orchestra in the fall and advanced ensembles.

Audrey Lipsey, Crescendo Academy of Music s Executive Director and Conductor of Prep Strings and Training Orchestra for the Kalamazoo Junior Symphony Orchestras, will lead this special 7-week program.

Class meets June 16 - July 28 on Tuesdays 4:30 – 6:00 pm. Cost is $150; financial aid is available. Link to register in comments.