OPYO

The Ozarks Philharmonic Youth Orchestras

Membership

We invite you to join Ozarks Philharmonic Youth Orchestras and experience the youth orchestra’s ‘Pursuit of Excellence’. You will have fun, play challenging music, and learn what the orchestra experience is all about; plus travel to perform in the finest concert halls, receive coaching from professional musicians, and make a lot of new and lasting friendships with fellow musicians.

Membership in OPYO is open to highly qualified players of orchestral instruments from Northwest Arkansas and the surrounding area. Generally, students are between the ages of 6 and 19 years. Members are selected on the basis of an audition and are placed in one of the following groups:

ANDANTE Strings 

A string ensemble for musicians who are beginning their orchestra experience. String musicians who have studied privately or played in a school orchestra for one year and can read music may audition.

Youth Symphony of the Ozarks 

The premiere orchestra in our program. It is a full orchestra complete with strings, winds, brass and percussion performing under the baton of C. Myron Flippin. The orchestra primarily performs original music from the masters.

PRESTO Orchestra 

An intermediate ensemble composed of winds, strings, and percussion. The string section performs as a chamber ensemble also. This is a preparatory orchestra for the Youth Symphony of the Ozarks.

YSO Chamber Orchestra 

A small string ensemble composed of the best and most experienced string musicians. This group performs several times for community functions throughout the season.