Calling all trumpet, bassoon, and timpanists! Apply now for our rolling applications to the 2024-2025 season! FULL SCHOLARSHIPS available to all qualified applicants. Positions will be open until posted as filled.
Join the HYCO program as a student intern! Interns are considered in grades 9-12 and assist with management, rehearsals/sectionals occasionally, operations, and performances. All instruments are considered that are involved with the current HYCO program. Priority is given to musicians who play viola, cello, or double bass.
1. HYCO is the only youth orchestra program in the Houston and Greater Houston area to be under the directorship of a musician who is a current member of a major symphony orchestra (Kurt Johnson; The Houston Symphony). This means that students can be confident in knowing they will be challenged at the highest level possible individually and as an ensemble.
2. Students participate in at least 1-3 outreach concerts/semester at venues such as NASA Johnson Space Center, Bayou Bend, The Rienzi Museum, among others to inspire and bring enjoyment to The Houston community.
3. Students receive sectional and masterclass guidance from professional musicians from The Houston Symphony, Houston Ballet, Houston Grand Opera, among others.
4. HYCO intentionally accepts 15-40 student musicians per orchestra to allow for more personal growth in individual performance and enjoyment.
5. HYCO offers a chamber music ensemble program led under the direction of active chamber musician of L'Esperanza and frequent guest violist of The Houston Symphony, Yvonne Smith.
Bravo to all the participants today in our first annual Summer Institute! Videos are now available online at www.hyso.info under the YouTube link. Enjoy!
We’re so proud of everyone who participated in the 2023 HYSO First Summer Institute! Videos are now posted on the HYSO YouTube link. Bravo!
What an amazing group of talented young musicians! We’re proud to introduce Joyce Tan as our first place competition winner in the HYSO Solo Artist Competition of 2023! Congratulations Joyce!
Check out our wonderful new chic tote bags listed under “HYSO Tote Bag” at the bottom of each page on the HYSO site! These bags are available for a limited time. Hurry and act now to reserve yours!
**New this season** All viola applicants receive 1/2 price tuition in The Philharmonic and Concert Orchestras if they qualify for the program!!!**
2021-2022 Season applications are now available! We are excited to restart our outreach concerts, social events, and formal concert training (COVID pending). Apply early for consideration!
Hello everyone! We are currently revamping our program with safety protocols as our top priority in the 2020-2021 season. We are excited to begin our season in January of 2021! Stay tuned for more details to come!
Please visit our website at www..hyso.info for all information about 2020-2021 applications! Spots are limited so apply early! Highlights for the 2020-2021 season include an annual concerto competition and possible summer chamber music opportunity in Greece!
Our 2020-2021 season information will be available by the end of January 2020. We are excited to try out a new rehearsal time of 6-7:30pm on Sunday evenings for the 2020-20201 season! We hope you will join us then!
The first rehearsal for the 2019-2020 HYSO season will begin on Saturday, September 7, 2019 at 10am. We look forward to seeing everyone and celebrating with an ice cream social at the end of rehearsal!
We are excited to begin the fall season with 2 new orchestras; The Concert Orchestra and The Philharmonic Orchestra led by Quan Jiang and Kurt Johnson respectively. All auditions are complete for The Philharmonic. Please join us on November 23, 2019 at All Saints Catholic Church in The Houston Heights for our winter 2019 concert!
All 2019-2020 season applications, fees, and letters of recommendation are due as soon as possible. Our deadline for applications is April 15, 2019. We hope to have you join us!
Please join us as we perform our spring concert in it’s entirety on Sat. March 30, 2019 at 10:30am at The Houston Heights Public Library. Works by Pachabel, Bach, Disney, among other will be performed. See you there!
Please join us on stage 2 as we perform selections from our upcoming spring semester concert at The Heights Kids Day of Music. We will be performing at 10:15am-10:30am on Sat. March 23, 2019 at Love Park in the Heights. Please visit www.heightskidsdayofmusic.com for more information.
Applications for the 2019-2020 season are now available online! We are excited to offer two orchestras this season (beginner and advanced programs)! Please review specific details about the application and note deadlines. We encourage early applications as we anticipate filling all audition slots in the very near future for the Philharmonic.
Happy New Year everyone! We are excited to begin our spring semester on January 12th. Our 2019-2020 season applications will be available very soon! Please stay tuned for more information. We are excited to expand opportunities to students that are interested in participating into two orchestras; beginning orchestra (Concert Orchestra) and an intermediate/advanced orchestra (Philharmonic Orchestra). We are thrilled to offer these orchestras to students ages 5 and up with no upper age limit!