Enjoy the music you love performed by the vibrant members of ESYO and pay what you can with Access ESYO! Tickets start at $1

Whether it's online in our new virtual concert hall or in-person, ESYO welcomes you to enjoy every performance.  Purchase your general admission ticket for $25 or take advantage of Access ESYO, an online "pay what you can" ticketing system. Whichever you decide, please support in-person music-making by paying what you would typically spend on a LIVE concert.

Your ticket purchase creates opportunity for young musicians in New York's Capital Region.

Winter/Spring 2023

Playathon 2023

Saturday, Mar 25 | 10:30 am
Playathon is ESYO’s most important friend-raiser and fundraiser of the year! This fun-filled day of music raises money for ESYO while showcasing the breadth & depth of our program! This free, family event takes place from 11:00am through 5:00pm at Crossgates Mall and showcases hundreds of young musicians! It's the only day of the year where all ESYO ensembles (including CHIME) perform—from the deep rumble of the percussion ensembles to the uplifting trills of the wind orchestra. The day also includes live auctions to earn a chance to lead one of the ensembles! Team up with friends to win the baton! 

Symphony Orchestra

Sunday, Apr 02 | 3:00 pm
ESYO Symphony Orchestra returns to Troy Savings Bank Music Hall in a celebration of spring, performing Aaron Copland’s Appalachian Spring and Li Huanzhi’s Spring Festival Overture. This concert will also feature Yu-Heng Wang, one of our two 2023 Lois Lyman Concerto Competition winners, performing Bartok's Viola Concerto. Don’t miss this chance to see them perform before they’re off to Carnegie Hall in June.

Repertory Orchestra and String Orchestra

Saturday, May 06 | 3:00 pm
Comprised of violinists, violists, cellists, and double bassists, String Orchestra musicians explore a wide range of repertoire including suitable orchestral standards, educational arrangements and contemporary compositions that develop musical skill and technique. ESYO Repertory Orchestra is a full symphonic orchestra experience that provides intermediate-level and advancing musicians with challenging rehearsal and performance opportunities. Performing together, come listen and be inspired by the talent of it all.

Concertino Strings, Woodwinds and Brass Ensembles

Sunday, May 07 | 3:00 pm
ESYO Concertino ensembles are educational performance-based ensemble with a focus on introducing beginning musicians to the joys of performing together while educating and fostering a love of music. Together, members explore standard classical works and educational arrangements that inspire, educate, and develop essential skills that nourish the musical and personal development of beginning musicians.

Youth, Chamber, Repertory & Concertino Percussion

Sunday, May 07 | 7:00 pm
ESYO’s Percussion Ensembles come together for an exciting evening of folk songs, masterpieces, and contemporary percussion music.

Youth and Repertory Jazz

Friday, May 12 | 7:30 pm
ESYO’s Youth and Repertory Jazz Orchestras transform Schenectady High School into a place for jazz, performing classic jazz standards and contemporary swingin’ tunes.

Wind Orchestra and Wind Choirs

Sunday, May 14 | 3:00 pm
ESYO Wind Orchestra involves woodwind, brass, and percussion players discovering the brilliance, majestic resonance, and sonic power of wind music. Wind Orchestra uniquely brings together emerging, intermediate, and advanced musicians to perform a wide variety of literature, including original wind ensemble pieces, commissioned works, iconic marches, chamber music, and transcriptions of popular orchestral works.

All-CHIME Concert

Friday, May 19 | 6:00 pm
All three ESYO CHIME ensembles come together under one roof! Join us at Schenectady High School on May 19. This concert will include the world premiere of the student-led Amplify Our Voice piece. Free, general admission. Start time TBD.

SPAC Festival of Young Artists

Sunday, Jun 04 | 2:00 pm
Our Repertory Orchestra, CHIME groups, and Youth Jazz Orchestra perform as part of the SPAC Festival of Young Artists! The Festival of Young Artists is an annual event held at Saratoga Performing Arts Center that presents student art shows, poetry slams, and live performances featuring hundreds of young dancers, singers, and musicians. Get tickets through SPAC below.

Symphony Orchestra at Carnegie Hall

Sunday, Jun 04 | 2:00 pm
The ESYO Symphony Orchestra season culminates in this performance at Carnegie Hall. Li Huanzhi’s spritely Spring Festival Overture gives this program an energizing start, followed by Tchaikovsky’s epic Symphony No. 5. Led by ESYO Music Director Etienne Abelin, this performance is the perfect way to cap our season. 

2022 Season (Past)

Repertory, String, & Concertino String Orchestras perform at Troy Savings Bank Music Hall

Sunday, Nov 13 | 3:00 pm

Summer Sessions |ESYO Night at SPAC! Philadelphia Orchestra performs Beethoven’s Eroica

Thursday, Aug 11 | 7:00 pm

Summer Sessions | Sounds of Nature Hike with ESYO Conductor Joseph Gumpper

Thursday, Aug 11 | 10:00 am

Summer Sessions | Sight Reading Jam- Concertino Strings, String Orchestra, and CHIME Orchestra Strings

Wednesday, Aug 10 | 5:30 pm

Summer Sessions | Sight Reading Jam-Repertory Orchestra & Symphony Orchestra Strings

Tuesday, Aug 09 | 6:30 pm

Summer Sessions | Sight Reading Jam- Winds, Brass, & Percussion

Tuesday, Aug 09 | 5:00 pm

Summer Sessions | Brass Workshop & Reading Session

Tuesday, Aug 09 | 4:00 pm

Summer Sessions | Open Rehearsal with Composer Thomas Adès and the Boston Symphony Orchestra

Saturday, Aug 06 | 10:30 am

Summer Sessions | Open Rehearsal with Mark Morris Dance Group

Thursday, Aug 04 | 7:15 pm

Summer Sessions | The Sounds of Nature Hike with ESYO Conductor David Beck

Tuesday, Aug 02 | 10:00 am

2021 Season

A look back at some of our 2021 concerts...

Below are past events that are available to watch on the Virtual Concert Hall!

ESYO Symphony Orchestra

Friday, Nov. 5, 2021 | 7:30PM

Troy Savings Bank Music Hall

Andrés Rivas, Guest Conductor

ESYO Symphony Orchestra and The Orchestra Now's Andrés Rivas illuminate the autumn night sky and welcome audiences back with Antonin Dvorak's brilliant Symphony No. 8 and Jennifer Higdon's Light, a vivid orchestral overture. ESYO's youthful musicians hit the ballroom with Arturo Márquez's mariachi-inspired Danzón.

ESYO Repertory Orchestra + Youth Jazz Orchestra

Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021 | 7:00PM

Troy Savings Bank Music Hall

David Beck, ESYO Repertory Orchestra Conductor
Dr. Peter Bellino, ESYO Youth Jazz Orchestra Conductor
Michael Rodriquez, Guest Trumpet Soloist

Watch Repertory Orchestra on Virtual Concert Hall

ESYO String Orchestra & Concertino Strings

Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021 | 4:00PM

Troy Savings Bank Music Hall


Joseph Gumpper, String Orchestra Conductor
Leo Milman, Concertino Strings Conductor

Watch String Orchestra on virtual concert hall

ESYO Wind Orchestra

SUNDAY, DEC. 12, 2021 | 2:00PM

Massry Center for the Arts at The College of St. Rose

Dr. Robert Hansbrough, conductor

Featuring ESYO Wind Orchestra Woodwind Choir and Brass Choir

Sleigh Ride | An ESYO Holiday Spectacular featuring Madison VanDenburg

SUNDAY, DEC. 19, 2021 | 3:00PM

Proctors in Schenectady

Ring in the holiday season with family and friends at the Empire State Youth Orchestra. Catch the spirit of the season and take a joyful sleigh ride with sparkling holiday favorites, Christmas carols, and inspired Symphonic classics filled with good cheer. ESYO’s former Music Director Helen Cha-Pyo returns to conduct Mozart’s Sleigh Ride and the Skater’s Waltz by Émile Waldteufel. ESYO Youth Jazz Orchestra performs the famed holiday classic (There is no place like) Home for the holidays, by Capital Region native Robert Allen and American Idol finalist Madison VanDenburg returns home to perform her hit new single, The Light of Christmas, with ESYO.  It is fun for the whole family.

Available to watch! Click below for a free admission: