Youth Symphony of Southern Oregon

Founded in 1988, the Youth Symphony of Southern Oregon (YSSO) offers high-level training and performance opportunities for aspiring brass, string, percussion and woodwind musicians from throughout the region. YSSO performances feature masterworks, concerti, opera, ballet, and musical theater literature, and chamber music by Beriot, Elgar, Offenbach, Marquez, Villa-Lobos, Beethoven, Higdon, Mendelssohn, Tchaikovsky, Brahms, Mozart, Hovhaness, Hummel, and many others.

The recent Winter 2026 Concert Series performances featured an arrangement of George Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, two movements from Symphony No. 9, Op. 95 "From the New World" by Antonin Dvorak, Hoe-Down from the ballet "Rodeo" by Aaron Copland, the traditional Shaker tune Simple Gifts, and works by Soon Hee Newbold and John Williams.

The YSSO also commissions music. In 2024, the Youth Symphony of Southern Oregon commissioned and premiered The Emerald Moon, by Mark Eliot Jacobs. In addition, the Youth Symphony premiered Eclipse: Ex tenebris lux, "From Darkness Comes Light," by Ethan Gans-Morse. The piece was commissioned by the Rogue Valley Symphony as part of its Composers in the Classroom program and created in collaboration with the musicians of the Youth Symphony.

To make a gift to the Youth Symphony of Southern Oregon, click Donate Now or mail a check payable to the Youth Symphony of Southern Oregon, P.O. Box 4291, Medford, OR 97501. A gift in any amount makes a difference. Please consider renewing an annual gift or honoring a musician, friend, family member or colleague with a contribution to the YSSO. Thank you!


YSSO