San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra

The San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra (SFSYO) has earned a reputation as one of the finest youth ensembles in the world. Founded in 1981 to provide pre-professional training to the Bay Area’s most gifted young musicians at no cost, the orchestra has toured Europe and Asia to rave reviews, winning the prestigious City of Vienna Prize at the International Youth and Music Festival in 1986 and performing to packed houses in the great halls of Europe, from Berlin’s Philharmonie to Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw to the Mariinsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg. It has played for Queen Elizabeth II of England and been featured on BBC radio.

The young musicians get the invaluable experience of working and talking with many of the renowned artists and conductors who perform with the San Francisco Symphony, among them Yo-Yo Ma, Sir Simon Rattle, John Adams, Emanuel Ax, Ray Chen, Wynton Marsalis, and Midori. The San Francisco Symphony’s Music Director Laureate Michael Tilson Thomas also frequently coached and worked with the young musicians. Today, the orchestra features 108 musicians, chosen from more than 300 applicants per season.

Askonas Holt has worked with the SFSYO since 2008, arranging summer European tours to some of the world’s most prestigious concert halls such as the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, Smetana Hall, Prague, and the Philharmonie, Berlin. Most recently, Askonas Holt has enjoyed touring with the orchestra throughout Europe in 2015 and 2019.