CYSO’s Symphony Orchestra and Philharmonic Orchestra present their spring concert at Orchestra Hall. Tickets go on sale on April 10th.

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Symphony Orchestra Spring Concert at Orchestra Hall featuring Philharmonic Orchestra

Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Philharmonic Orchestra and Accelerando Strings present their spring concert at Northeastern Illinois University Auditorium. Tickets on sale now!

Philharmonic Orchestra & Accelerando Strings Spring Concert

Northeastern Illinois University Auditorium

Support CYSO and join us for dinner at The Exchange with CYSO Executive Director Jennie Oh Brown and renowned composer Stacy Garrop, whose piece Pandora Undone will be featured in this Symphony Orchestra Hall concert.

Savor the Symphony

The Exchange

CYSO’s Jazz Orchestra presents their spring concert in Logan Center.

Jazz Orchestra Spring Concert

Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts

CYSO’s Steel Orchestras present their Spring Concert at Curtiss Hall!

Steel Orchestras Spring Concert: Celebrating 10 Years of Steelpan

Fine Arts Building Chicago

CYSO’s Overture Strings, Preparatory Strings, and Debut Orchestra present their spring concert.

Overture Strings, Preparatory Strings, and Debut Orchestra Spring Concert

Northwestern University

CYSO ‘s Concert Orchestra and Jazz Orchestra present their spring concert. Tickets on sale starting April 8th.

Concert Orchestra & Jazz Orchestra Spring Concert

CYSO’s Symphony Orchestra presents a free run-out concert at Whitney Young High School.


Symphony Orchestra Spring Community Concert

Whitney Young High School

CYSO Education Concerts are free field trip opportunities offered to all CPS schools, aimed specifically at 3rd-5th grade audiences. Conductors and CYSO performers develop programming to engage students and increase their knowledge of instruments, performance, and music history, as well as pre- and post-concert lessons teachers can use to enhance student learning. For CYSO musicians, these concerts create important opportunities for mentorship and demonstrate the power of music to engage and serve our communities.

CPS Education Concert: A Steelpan Celebration

CYSO’s festival of chamber music is back! Join us for our spring Chamberpalooza celebration, taking place on the 8th and 10th floors of the Fine Arts Building. Visitors are encouraged to travel from room to room to experience the sounds of CYSO’s chamber music ensembles. This event is free and open to the public!

Chamberpalooza

Join CORE Chamber Orchestra in their spring performance! This event is free and open to the public—no tickets are required.

CORE Chamber Orchestra Spring Concert

CYSO’s Philharmonic Orchestra joins Classical Kids Live!’s production of Saint-Georges’ Sword & Bow, a brand new show celebrating the work and life of Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, a biracial 18th century French violinist, conductor, composer, and fencer. This family-friendly musical theater-style performance that combines an orchestral performance and live actors. The event takes place at North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie. The performance is approximately 50 minutes in length and is recommended for audiences age six and up.

Classical Kids Live!’s Saint-Georges’ Sword & Bow featuring Philharmonic Orchestra

Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras

CPS Education Concerts: Classical Kids Live!’s Saint-Georges’ Sword & Bow

CYSO celebrates the legacy of Duke Ellington at the 2024 CYSO Gala: Got That Swing! in honor of the American icon’s 125th birthday. As one of the most enduring creative forces of the 20th century, the Duke defined his work as “American music”—not jazz—and was renowned for his eponymous jazz orchestra where he created signature tunes like “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing),” “Take the A Train,” and “Mood Indigo.”

The CYSO Gala: Got That Swing!

Radisson Blu Aqua

As we head into CYSO’s audition season, Open House gives prospective families a look at what it’s like to be a member of one of our ensembles. Join us on Saturday, February 17 for this day-long event that’s completely free and open to the public. Open House is a great way to get to know the programs we offer, see our conductors at work, and find out what makes CYSO so special!

Open House 2024

Presented by Emmanuel Baptist Church, the second annual Black Heritage Performing Arts Community Concert is a free event celebrating and preserving the history and heritage of African-American music. CYSO’s Accelerando Strings will perform with special guest, acclaimed violinist Caitlin Edwards. Other community arts organization performances to be announced.

Black Heritage Performing Arts Community Concert

Emmanuel Baptist Church

CPS Education Concert: Big Band Bash!

CYSO’s festival of chamber music is back! Join us for our Spring Chamberpalooza celebration, taking place on the 8th and 10th floors of the Fine Arts Building. Visitors are encouraged to travel from room to room to experience the sounds of CYSO’s chamber music ensembles. This event is free and open to the public!

Calling all double reed and double bass players: CYSO’s Double Double Workshop is back! Students ages 10-18 are invited to this day-long event dedicated to the oboe, bassoon, and bass. Attend sessions with some of the most respected professional musicians from across Chicagoland, enter the orchestral excerpt competition for a chance to win great prizes, meet other young double reed and bass players from across the area, and more!

Double Double Workshop 2023

CYSO’s Steel Orchestras present their Fall Concert in Curtiss Hall!

Steel Orchestras Fall Concert

CYSO’s Overture Strings, Preparatory Strings, and Debut Orchestra present their Fall Concert.

Overture Strings, Preparatory Strings, & Debut Orchestra Fall Concert

CYSO ‘s Concert Orchestra and Jazz Orchestra present their Fall concert.

Concert Orchestra & Jazz Orchestra Fall Concert

CYSO’s Symphony Orchestra present their Fall Concert at Orchestra Hall.

Symphony Orchestra Fall Concert at Orchestra Hall

Join Rudolf Haken, professor of viola and electric strings at University of Illinois, as he presents a special masterclass with CYSO students and following, an electric violin recital. Both events are free and open to the public and take place at William Harris Lee & Co on the 5th floor of the Fine Arts Building.

Masterclass and Electric Violin Recital with Prof. Rudolf Haken

Fine Arts Building

CYSO’s Jazz Orchestra takes the stage in their solo fall concert at The Rhapsody Theater.

Jazz Orchestra Fall Concert

CYSO’s Symphony Orchestra presents a free run-out concert at Carl Sandburg High School.

Symphony Orchestra Fall Community Concert

Carl Sandburg High School

CYSO’s Accelerando Strings present their Fall concert at Logan Center for the Arts. Tickets for sale online until Friday, October 27 at noon, and then available at the door beginning one hour before concert time on Sunday.

Accelerando Strings Fall Concert 2023

CYSO’s Philharmonic Orchestra present their Fall concert at Logan Center for the Arts. Tickets for sale online until Friday, October 27 at noon, and then available at the door beginning one hour before concert time on Sunday.

Philharmonic Orchestra Fall Concert 2023

Visitors who have been recently diagnosed with COVID-19 or who have possible symptoms of COVID-19 should not come to campus. At this time, masks are encouraged but optional while visiting Roosevelt facilities. The Roosevelt COVID Response Team continues to monitor the state of public health and will adjust our visitor policies accordingly. Guests can also fill out the self-assessment form on your mobile device by visiting roosevelt.edu/guest.

CORE Chamber Orchestra Fall Concert

Roosevelt University

CYSO’s popular masterclass returns with everything you need to know about the music admissions process. Hear from a panel of admissions professionals from across the country to find out what schools look for in applicants, how to find the program that’s right for you, and what you can be doing now to prepare your audition and application.

Getting into College 101

Join us for CYSO’s College Fair! Representatives from colleges, universities, music camps, and more will be on hand to meet with students and share information about their programs. Find out what programs might be right for you and learn about opportunities for scholarships, application deadlines, and more.

CYSO College Fair

Grab a beer and get to know fellow CYSO families at our Parents Night Out! Join us on Wednesday, September 21 for an evening out to support CYSO. Mix and mingle with other CYSO families and enjoy the early fall air on the patio at Ravinia Brewing Company’s Chicago Brewpub in Logan Square. Play games, join in the raffle, and enjoy music provided by members of our Jazz Orchestra, with 20% of food and drink purchases from the night going back to support CYSO! This is a family friendly event—all ages are welcome! There will even be an activity table for kids who’d like to tag along.

Parents Night Out

Ravinia Brewing Company

Join us at Ravinia Brewing Company and watch performances from our talented CYSO Jazz students! Come and enjoy some quality music with delicious food and your favorite beverage on their back patio. Our CYSO Jazz students will perform two 45 minute sets with a break in between and will feature different performers and repertoire throughout the summer. Bring your family and friends!

CYSO Jazz at Ravinia Brewing Company

NOTE: This event has been canceled due to air quality concerns. We will reschedule for later this summer. Stay tuned!

Join us at Ravinia Brewing Company and watch performances from our talented CYSO Jazz students! Come and enjoy some quality music with delicious food and your favorite beverage on their back patio. Our CYSO Jazz students will perform two 45 minute sets with a break in between and will feature different performers and repertoire throughout the summer. Bring your family and friends!



What do you get when you combine 12 classically-trained cellists a rebellious spirit, and a passion for rock music? Low Strung, the musical group that’s been taking the world by storm since 2006. Hailing from Yale University, Low Strung has crafted an unforgettable repertoire that spans across genres, from the iconic sounds of The Beatles to the modern beats of Beyoncé. We invite everyone to attend our concert but especially encourage young cellists to bring their instruments for a special workshop where YOU get to rock out to some of our tunes!

Low Strung Concert & Workshop

CYSO’s Symphony Orchestra present their Spring Concert at Orchestra Hall featuring Philharmonic Orchestra.

CYSO’s Accelerando Strings and Philharmonic Orchestra present their Spring concert at Vernon Hills High School Auditorium!

Accelerando Strings and Philharmonic Orchestra Spring Concert 2023

Vernon Hills High School

CYSO’s Steel Orchestras present their Spring Concert at Vernon Hills High School Studio Theatre!

Steel Orchestras Spring Concert

Join CYSO’s Jazz Orchestra for their final performance of the year at Chicago’s legendary Jazz Showcase featuring vocalist Dee Alexander!

Jazz Showcase

CYSO’s Symphony Orchestra presents a free run-out concert at Barrington High School.

Barrington High School

Masks are optional in most University spaces, and this applies broadly within the Bienen School of Music. However, in consideration of the unique nature of our activities, and in consultation with Northwestern leadership and medical experts, there remain certain circumstances when masking may be required. At this time, proof of vaccination is not required to attend Bienen School concerts. For more information, please visit https://www.music.northwestern.edu/coronavirus

Concert Orchestra Spring Concert

CYSO’s Overture Strings, Preparatory Strings, and Debut Orchestra present their Spring Concert

Join CORE Chamber Orchestra in their Spring performance! This event is free and open to the public—no tickets are required.

Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras

May 19, 2024

Symphony Orchestra Spring Concert at Orchestra Hall featuring Philharmonic Orchestra

May 18, 2024

Philharmonic Orchestra & Accelerando Strings Spring Concert

Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras