Maryland Classic Youth Orchestras

08/27/2026

A quick update for our MCYO auditionees: ONLY accepted Philharmonic musicians have received their placement notification at this time, as Philharmonic begins its season this Saturday, August 29. Please check the Acceptd Messages or notifications.

Placement notifications for all other ensembles are still being finalized and, as previously announced, will be sent tomorrow, Friday, August 28.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we finalize our rosters. We’re excited to welcome everyone back for a new MCYO season!

08/05/2026

Ever wonder what makes Maryland Classic Youth Orchestras so special?

Many of our musicians spend their summers at MCYO Summer Camps, where days are filled with intensive rehearsals, as well as intensive team bonding activities. 💞

It's all part of what makes the MCYO community so unique.

MCYO Alumni & Friends

07/22/2026

Inside tech rehearsal for The White Swan 🦢

Follow Kristofer Sanz as he works with the Maryland Classic Youth Orchestras Philharmonic to shape an immersive retelling of Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake.

🎥 Watch the full behind-the-scenes video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/nKTLGV_3aaA?si=5pTqVD6koXUhwQhm

07/14/2026

Last month, Maryland Classic Youth Orchestras students joined The Music School of Delaware for an unforgettable tour of New York City, culminating in a performance at Carnegie Hall.

From exploring the city to making music together, the trip was filled with lifelong memories.✨

🎥 Watch highlights from their journey!

07/10/2026

Take a look around! Experience a 360° preview of what our MCYO All-Star String Intensive musicians have been working on this week. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nbQYjq43A4

Join us tomorrow (7/10) at 7:30 PM at The Music Center at Strathmore for an inspiring evening of music featuring some of our region's outstanding young string musicians. We can't wait to share the culmination of this incredible intensive with you!

Please scroll through the screen to get the 360-degree view experie...

07/08/2026

Unforgettable night at Wolf Trap! MCYO's Flute Choir joined the stage with DCFlutes Ensemble, opening for Lizzo and the National Symphony Orchestra. Still on cloud nine! 🤩🎶 Huge thanks for the incredible opportunity! 💫

07/07/2026

A glimpse of what high school musicians can create in just five days 🎻

Last summer’s MCYO All-Star String Intensive performs Florian Christl’s “Close Your Eyes.”

This year’s students take the stage for "Dreams and Hallucinations" on Friday, July 10, an immersive concert featuring top youth string musicians from across the region.

📅 Friday, July 10
⏰ 7:30pm
📍 The Music Center at Strathmore

07/02/2026

“I’ve been to performances where you could close your eyes and think you were listening to a professional orchestra from a major city. They play at that level.”

Noreen Friedman shares what stands out about the MCYO Philharmonic as the ensemble prepares to perform "The White Swan."

06/13/2026

With The White Swan, MCYO Philharmonic transformed Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake into an immersive performance experience. Student musicians moved throughout the hall, soloists became characters, and the orchestra became part of the story.

The project challenged young musicians to think beyond traditional performance conventions and embrace new possibilities for musical storytelling.

“I want them to be comfortable with pushing boundaries, changing the status quo, changing the norm. They’re going to be the future musicians in the world.” — Kristofer Sanz, artistic director, Maryland Classic Youth Orchestras

Go behind the scenes as MCYO Philharmonic brings this ambitious vision to life.