The Bay Philharmonic Youth Orchestra (BPYO) begins its Spring 2026 session on January 12. Bay Area young musicians aged 8 to 18 are invited to audition and join the group, whose season ends on May 30 with a unique opportunity to be mentored by, and perform alongside, Bay Philharmonic pros in a special Side-by-Side Concert. BPYO is the only youth orchestra in the area that offers this chance to play with the pros. Â
BPYO would especially like to add brass and wind players—including clarinet, oboe, bassoon, saxophone, trumpet, horn, trombone, euphonium, and tuba—to fill key roles in the orchestra, but welcomes any young musician who would like to receive high-quality music instruction and performance opportunities.
Founded nine years ago, BPYO is led by Director Emeritus Judy Lam, a professional musician whose vision has always been rooted in mentorship, access, and musical excellence. It was created for students with a passion for music and a desire to grow,
The orchestra nurtures young musicians as they develop their music skills in a supportive, large ensemble setting, and helps them grow as confident collaborators and future community leaders. BPYO emphasizes musical growth and the joy of collaborative performance.
In addition to the orchestra opportunity, youth also have a chance to participate in BPYO’s Chamber program and perform within the community and in two additional Concerts on March 7 and June 13.
Enrollment is now open, and interested students—especially brass and wind players—are encouraged to apply soon. Students will rehearse regularly on Mondays after school at the First Methodist Church in Fremont.
For more information about BPYO, see the Bay Philharmonic website at https://bayphil.org/youth. To audition, start here: https://bayphil.org/youth/audition.
