The Colorado Springs Youth Symphony, founded in 1980, is a program that offers musical opportunities for those who are six to eighteen years old. With a revered reputation, the Youth Symphony holds rigorous auditions for the incoming hopefuls that are judged by the Colorado Springs Youth Symphony conductors.

“You have to perform a certain amount of scales and they choose excerpts, and you can use your own solo piece,” Karina Ramirez, 9, explained. “For the lower groups, you don’t need to do a solo piece but they do make you sight read.”

Joclyn Edgar, 9, is another one of the many hopefuls preparing to audition for the upcoming spring concert season. To make the audition perfect, Edgar practices for up to four hours on weeknights, and she practices up to six hours on the weekends.

“The audition process is very stressful, sometimes you have to perform a solo, Edgar said, “I have solo, I am also doing a solo ensemble called the romanza appassionata, it is six to seven minutes long, and has a piano accompanist.”

The Youth Symphony has the opportunity to go on different tours across the globe, allowing the musicians to perform in many different locations. Of the eight groups, only two groups can attend the tour. This year, Ramirez, will be travelling with the symphony to the Caribbean Islands for a performance and a cruise.   

“The directors of  the organization pick where we go on tour. The Ovation Youth Orchestra are going on tour,” Ramirez said, “My group is going on a cruise in the Caribbean Islands and my sister is going to Germany,” Ramirez said.

The Ovation Youth Orchestra is a full orchestra of intermediate players, this is one of the two groups going on tour. The other group going is the Spring Youth Symphony – a full orchestra of advanced players.

“The Ovation Youth Orchestra is one of the two full orchestras, it is the lower level of the two,” Ramirez said. “My sister is part of the Springs Youth Symphony which is the highest level.”

However, the symphony is not all fun and games, and being in the symphony has its downsides. For many of the young musicians, the stress of balancing school work and commuting to performance locations can be trying.

“I’m planning on majoring in music for college, so being in the Youth Symphony will look good on a college application, and it will be fun to participate in different bands with people who have the interest and experience,” Edgar said.

The auditions are to be held during the first week of May this year. Until then, musical hopefuls will be rehearsing to prepare for this extraordinary experience.