Ensembles
Serving nearly 100 students on the South Side, the Hyde Park Youth Symphony is one of the fastest growing orchestral programs in Chicago. Since 2015, HPYS has been an in-residence partner organization of both the University of Chicago Department of Music and the Logan Center for the Arts.
Conductors and coaches at all levels of the HPYS provided a high-quality arts experience for youth musicians, nurturing in them a love of music that will last a lifetime. Our three orchestras rehearse and perform on beautiful and inspiring University of Chicago campus, and students have access to the world-class facilities and resources through this partnership.
- Youth Symphony consists of the most experienced orchestral musicians in HPYS, generally including high school and advanced middle school students on all orchestral instruments (winds, brass, percussion, and strings). Students with previous orchestral experience can hone their musical, technical, and ensemble skills in the orchestra while performing both standard orchestral repertoire and new works.
- Made up of intermediate string players in middle and high school, String Orchestra students focus on string-specific technique while playing and performing in an ensemble setting. In this ensemble, students benefit from individual attention and expert pedagogy as they grow as string players and well-rounded musicians.
- For students looking for their first ensemble experience, check out Preparatory Strings! Small class sizes and an emphasis on building strong fundamentals of string technique, ensemble playing, and musicianship are the hallmarks of Preparatory Strings as students study a curriculum that balances the individual and group aspects of playing.
- The Chamber Music Program brings an exciting new facet of playing to the HPYS experience. Small ensembles of three to five students meet weekly with professional performers and educators in the Chicago area to learn the intricacies of performing both as soloists (one person per part) and ensemble players (playing with a group).
