Schaumburg Youth Orchestra

Mission Statement

The mission of the Schaumburg Youth Orchestra is to promote the continuing growth of the cultural arts in the community by providing area students with an outlet to perform challenging ensemble and orchestral music, and by presenting youth orchestra performances to the community and outlying areas through concerts, recordings and tours.

About Us

The Schaumburg Youth Orchestra (SYO) is a recreational and educational outlet for young advanced musicians in the Schaumburg area. Originating as a string ensemble with 16 members, the orchestra made its public debut with a concert performance at Schaumburg's 1989 Prairie Arts Festival.

The program enrolls new members by audition at the beginning of each school year. The orchestras exist to supplement the students' curricular training, as all members are required to participate in their school orchestra or band program. Each of the orchestras performs two concerts annually at the Prairie Center for the Arts. In addition to these performances, the ensembles have played for the public at numerous special engagements, including: The Prairie Arts Festival; Schaumburg's Septemberfest; Woodfield Shopping Center's holiday concert; Schaumburg Target store's grand opening; Motorola; and at Hemmens Auditorium with the Elgin Symphony Orchestra. The Schaumburg Youth Symphony Orchestra also presents its annual Presto! Holiday Concert featuring classical and contemporary seasonal works. The concert, featuring narration and guest artists, is performed for elementary school students in the morning and again for the public in a full-length evening program.