Young Musicians Choral Orchestra

Young Musicians Choral Orchestra provides musical training, academic reinforcement, and personal development opportunities for low-income, underserved students from four Bay Area counties. Each year, the no-cost program provides over 60 students with education, training, and performance opportunities in orchestra, choir, jazz, dance and movement, and music production. Support of the Young Musicians Choral Orchestra aligns with the Performing Arts Program’s Youth strategy, through the Program Delivery substrategy.

The Young Musicians Choral Orchestra (YMCO) is a new non-profit arts institution. The organization was founded in 1968 as the Young Musicians Program, a summer outreach initiative of UC Berkeley. The organization separated from UC Berkeley earlier this summer, becoming an independent 501(c)3. YMCO provides a rigorous combination of musical training, academic reinforcement, and personal development for 70 low-income students ages 9-18 in Berkeley and Oakland, predominantly young people of color. All of YMCO's service are provided free of charge. Every student sings in the chorus and performs in the orchestra, studying both classical and jazz music. This is supplemented by weekly private lessons, academic tutoring, and peer mentoring. There is a very high success rate--nearly all students are accepted into 4-year colleges, universities and music conservatories--and the program has received national recognition for it impact, including performing at the White House.