YAS » The Orchestra

San Diego Young Artists Symphony
The Orchestra

...Opportunity

...Education

...The Dream

"After his second YAS rehearsal, Kevin has decided to continue music in college; he will prepare to audition for next year. Kevin is blossoming with added practice, attention, and rehearsals. He was already very good, but he is getting better! Thank you for creating YAS for students like Kevin."

--Louise Titlow, Winds & Brass Teacher

    The San Diego Young Artists Symphony was established February 1995 by the late maestro Louis Campiglia as a nonprofit organization with a mission to provide serious music students the opportunity to study, enjoy, and perform challenging symphonic literature. Campiglia's professional leadership developed a musical environment that incorporated standards of excellence similar to a conservatory. Assisted by a volunteer Board of Trustees, Campiglia's vision for YAS continues today under Music Director maestra Mary Gerard and is the orchestra-in-residence at Mesa College. 
    The orchestra was honored by the City of El Cajon, a recipient of its 2004-2005 Magnolia Award for Best Performance Group of the Year. 
    The Young Artists and training ensembles are a rich experience offering a solution to California's decline in music education. Applicants are accepted by audition. YAS is funded primarily by tuition; concert good-will offerings; by gifts from individuals and corporations; by the City of San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture; and by The Seth Sprague Educational and Charitable Foundation.
    YAS is a full symphonic orchestra that performs the same symphonic repertoire as that of a professional orchestra. Each year we present ten to twelve concerts within San Diego County and nearby communities. One of our programs, Symphonic Sounds in Sacred Spaces, is performed in San Diego and El Cajon churches; these spaces provide excellent acoustics. There are no ticket sales or entrance fees—we suggest a donation. This concert series succeeds as a community outreach to strengthen ties within our diverse cultures. We call upon Friends of the Young Artists, a volunteer group that assists with programs.    
    The orchestra's popular Viennese Ball is performed annually in San Diego's culturally rich Balboa Park. Dancers from the western United States arrive in ball gowns, black tie, and costumes to waltz to the music of Johann Strauss and sons, Vienna's extraordinary composers. Louis Campiglia initiated the first entire Strauss concert ball in 1978 in San Diego, directing seventy-five balls, conducting Strauss in Las Vegas; London; Sun Valley, Idaho; and Laguna Nigel, California. With his passing in November 2004, YAS continues to honor this tradition. 
    In addition to this Young Artists full orchestra, YAS sponsors four training ensembles: Fiddle ‘n’ Bow, Con Brio, Winds ‘n’ Brass, and Suzuki Strings. Hernan Constantino, virtuoso violinist, conducts the Fiddle ‘n’ Bow and Con Brio; Winds ‘n’ Brass is coached by Jill Coady; Suzuki Strings are led by Jane and Eric Frey. These four programs instruct less experienced players in the fundamentals of ensemble performance and emphasize the joy of music. Here they build concert awareness, etiquette, and concentration.  Eventually they gain the required training to audition successfully for the advanced Young Artists orchestra.
    Our education outreach program offers mini performances by the Young Artists String Quartet and Chamber Ensemble. They perform in schools to spread the joy of music and to inspire novice musicians.  
    Young Artists, Fiddle ‘n’ Bow, Winds ‘n’ Brass and Suzuki Strings are open to all young promising musicians. Students range in age from three to twenty-three. Our multi-cultural students enjoy musical and social relationships. They develop concentration, focus, pride and values that reward them with life-time disciplines, memories of talented friends, a rich repertoire, and creative leadership. We are building skills and learning tools for strong futures within the music medium. Today's student can be tomorrow's professional musician. We feel a responsibility to future generations that global symphonic literature continues to triumph as a nourishing universal language.