Minnesota Youth Symphonies

Minnesota Youth Symphonies, commonly referred to as MYS, was founded in 1972. The program has four orchestras composed of elementary through high school aged musicians. Participation is based on an audition in which the prospective student must perform an appropriate solo, orchestral excerpt, major and minor scales, and sightread. Unlike many other programs, MYS places each student into an orchestra based entirely on his or her skill level, rather than age. The String Orchestra, composed only of stringed instruments, is conducted by Pat Kelly, and is geared for string students at the intermediate level. The Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Minnesota Orchestra Education Director Jim Bartsch, is a full orchestra for music students at the advanced-intermediate level. The Repertory Orchestra, conducted by MYS Co-Artistic Director Claudette Laureano, is offered for advanced students. The highest-level orchestra, the Symphony Orchestra, is conducted by MYS Co-Artistic Director Manny Laureano, and is a collegiate-level full orchestra. The orchestras perform three times annually at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis for an aggregate yearly audience of more than 5,000 patrons.

Student musicians throughout Minnesota and western Wisconsin audition annually for a position in one of the four orchestras, which meet most Saturday mornings for two to three-hour rehearsals from mid-September to early May. MYS also hosts an annual summer program in July, comprising a composition class, an advanced beginner string orchestra group with Pat Kelly, and a conductor's workshop with Manny Laureano.

MYS has been under the artistic direction of Manny Laureano, Principal Trumpet of the Minnesota Orchestra, and his wife, Claudette Laureano, Director of the Breck School's String Program, since 1988. Together, they’ve grown MYS from one orchestra of 58 students to four orchestras, a summer program and community outreach programs serving over 600 students.

Several alumni of the Minnesota Youth Symphonies program hold positions with professional orchestras such as the Cleveland Orchestra, Minnesota Orchestra, and St. Paul Chamber Orchestra.