SYRACUSE ORCHESTRA YOUTH ORCHESTRAS

Coming soon!

About The Syracuse Orchestra Youth Orchestra (SOYO)

The Syracuse Orchestra Youth Orchestra (SOYO) offers an elite orchestral experience for students from the Greater Central New York Region, performing the most challenging and professional repertoire along with new music by living composers. SOYO is a full symphonic orchestra of 60 to 70 of our region’s finest young musicians, and is reserved for musicians whose commitment to practicing and preparedness, technical skills, and musicality are of the highest level.

The Syracuse Orchestra Youth Orchestra annually presents three regular season concerts in venues throughout Central New York. Throughout these three cycles, Youth Orchestra members are also coached by our Syracuse Orchestra musicians. Every year, SOYO members also rehearse and perform in a much-anticipated Side-by-Side experience with The Syracuse Orchestra during one of their Masterworks or Pops Series Concerts at the John H. Mulroy Civic Center in Syracuse, NY. A multi-year plan includes the possibility of touring or performing outside of CNY.

SOYO is open to students up to age 22. The group rehearses on Sunday afternoons at Onondaga Community College from 4-6:30pm.

Level: NYSSMA 6

Grades: 7-12+

Tuition for the Season: $600

About The Syracuse Orchestra Youth String Orchestra (SOYSO)

The Syracuse Orchestra Youth String Orchestra (SOYSO) is our strings-only ensemble, bringing together many of our very talented young string musicians from the Greater Central New York Region. SOYSO is a full string orchestra of 40-50 members, fostering a community of growth and development on a wide and diverse variety of string repertoire, including traditional string orchestra music, new music by living composers, film music, and beyond.

The Syracuse Orchestra Youth String Orchestra annually presents three regular season concerts in venues throughout Central New York. Throughout these three cycles, Youth Orchestra members are also coached by our Syracuse Orchestra musicians. This year, SOYSO members will also be exploring a Side-by-Side experience with musicians of The Syracuse Orchestra Youth Orchestra (SOYO).

SOYSO is open to students in late elementary, middle school, and high school, performing at a NYSSMA Level 3, 4, & 5. The group rehearses on Sunday afternoons at Onondaga Community College from 1-3pm.

Level: NYSSMA 3-5

Grades: 5-12

Tuition for the Season: $600

Ava Krauss, SYO Coordinator
syo@syracuseorchestra.org

Pamela Murchison, Executive Director
pmurchison@syracuseorchestra.org
315-434-5644

STEPHEN SALEM

Stephen Salem is Music Director of the Syracuse Youth Orchestra, where he conducts the Syracuse Orchestra Youth Orchestra (SOYO) and a proud music educator at Liverpool High School, where he conducts the renowned LHS Symphonic Band and teaches SUNY OCC Music Theory. During his tenure at Liverpool, Mr. Salem has also conducted the Concert Band, Stage Band, Pit Orchestra, Tuba Euphonium Ensemble, Brass Quintet, and served as Brass Caption Head of the LHS Marching Band. Ensembles under his direction have been selected to perform at the NYSSMA Winter Conference and the NAfME Eastern Division Conference. Mr. Salem has also been honored as a recipient of the WCNY Classic FM Music Educator Award as well as being selected to Who’s Who in America.

As a conductor, Mr. Salem has been featured in a variety of prestigious festivals including the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music, the Oregon Summer Conducting Institute, the Nordic Masterclass for Conductors in Denmark with the South Jutland Symphony Orchestra, and the International Conducting Workshop and Festival in Czech Republic with the Bohuslav Martinu Philharmonic. Mr. Salem has also led Symphoria (now The Syracuse Orchestra) in educational concerts in addition to conducting a number of All-Counties and Honor Band Festivals. During the summer, Mr. Salem serves as senior band conductor at the Bristol Hills Music Camp in Canandaigua, NY. Beyond teaching and conducting, Mr. Salem is an active performer on tuba and bass trombone. He has performed with the Central Winds, the Auburn Chamber Orchestra, The Syracuse Orchestra, the Utica Symphony, the Misty Cove Brass Quintet, and the Central Winds Jazz Ensemble.

Mr. Salem earned his master’s degree in Instrumental Conducting Performance from the University of Florida and his bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the Setnor School of Music at Syracuse University. His conducting teachers include David Waybright and John Laverty, as well as supplemental studies with Jorma Panula, Larry Rachleff, and Donald Schleicher.

Mr. Salem resides in Liverpool with his wife Anna and their three children, Amelia, Jonah, and Olivia. When not making music, Mr. Salem enjoys cooking, traveling, spending time outdoors running or biking, reading a good book, watching a great show, supporting the Buffalo Bills, and spending quality time with his wonderful family.

JESSICA TUMAJYAN

Jessica Kline Tumajyan is the orchestra director at Christian Brothers Academy where she teaches string lessons, music theory, and conducts the CBA orchestras. She holds a bachelor of music in Viola Performance from Syracuse University and has been the viola instructor at Le Moyne College since 2014.

As a former full time violist with The Syracuse Orchestra, Mrs. Tumajyan still performs actively on violin and viola. Ms. Tumajyan performs with the Binghamton Philharmonic, Tri-Cities Opera, Clinton Symphony, Syracuse Vocal Ensemble, Schola Cantorum, and is a member of the Fenimore Chamber Orchestra. Mrs. Tumajyan is completing her MM in Music Education from Ithaca College.

Mrs. Tumajyan is also actively involved in student coaching and adjudication and has recently adjudicated the Friends of Chamber Music Youth Chamber competition, Vermont All State auditions, and NYSSMA solo festival. She recently assisted with the Onondaga County JH all county festival, and conducted the Oswego Senior High All County concert. Mrs. Tumajyan was the co recipient (with her husband) of the 2022 Tiffany Award for outstanding contributions to music and music education in Central New york.

Mrs. Tumajyan lives in Manlius with her husband (a violinist), her son Sebastien, and their cat Snowball. She enjoys reading, traveling, nature walks, and of course, music.

Please contact us at syo@syracuseorchestra.org or by calling 315-299-5598 and connecting with the box office.

All auditions will be held at Onondaga Community College in the Academic II Building in the month of June. Musicians will audition for a panel that includes the SOYO and SOYSO conductors as well as a musician from The Syracuse Orchestra.

Audition Dates:

Friday, June 5 – Strings

Saturday, June 6 – Strings

Sunday, June 7 – Wind/Brass/Percussion/Strings

Sunday, June 14 – All Extra

Audition requirements for the 2026-27 Season of the Syracuse Youth Orchestra are below for both orchestras. Admission to the SYO Program is contingent upon a successful registration and audition. It is highly encouraged that students study privately. Each student must re-audition for SYO every year.

Audition Requirements for all SYO ensembles:

1. Register via the online application by May 18, 2026 including payment of audition fee.
2. See Audition Requirements for Scales, NYSSMA Solo, and Orchestral Excerpts (available at this link by May 1).
3. Perform an audition for the adjudication panel.

Other Pertinent Audition Information:

1. Audition Fees: There is a non-refundable Audition Fee of $25.
2. Audition times will be emailed to the applicant by May 29, 2026.
3. Results will be emailed out no later than July, 31, 2026.

Further SOYO Winds & Percussion Expectations:

1. Flutes should play or be willing to learn to play piccolo.
2. Oboes should play or be willing to learn to play English horn.
3. Clarinets should be able to transpose parts in A or own an A Clarinet/also be able to play or learn bass clarinet.
4. Bassoons are able to read bass clef and tenor clef.
5. Trumpets and French Horns are able to independently transpose parts.
6. Trombones are able to read in bass clef, tenor clef, and alto clef.
7. Percussion will need to provide their own mallets and sticks.

CLICK HERE TO COMPLETE YOUR 2026-27 AUDITION REGISTRATION!

Coming soon!

What does SYO cost?

Tuition for the 2026-27 season for both SOYO and SOYSO is $600. Payment plans and tuition assistance applications are available. Once accepted into the orchestra, a form will be provided that can be completed to request financial assistance.

How much is the audition fee?

There is a $25 non-refundable audition fee. Once you complete the registration form, you will be redirected to complete the audition fee payment. Payment of this fee is required in order to receive an audition time. If you require financial assistance for this, please email the SYO Coordinator at syo@syracuseorchestra.org before submitting your registration form and we are very happy to help!

Do I need to play my solo from memory?

No, it is not required to play your solo from memory, although many often will!

Do I need to provide a copy of my music for the adjudication panel?

No, the panel does not need a copy of your music.

Can I play a solo that doesn’t have a NYSSMA level specified?

Many of the students who audition for SYO perform their most recent NYSSMA Solo that they played at the 2026 All-State Auditions or Solo Festivals. However, for students who are new to New York State, performing their most recent solo from another state organization will suffice for the audition.

Does the audition committee select which orchestra I should be in or do I have to choose?

The audition committee will decide which orchestra is the best fit for each student. The conductor’s selections are the final decisions unless an opening becomes available during the season. At that time, the conductor may select a student or students to invite for the next orchestra.

How soon will I hear about the audition results?

The audition results will be sent via email to the student and parent email address(es) provided at registration. These will be sent as soon as all decisions have been made, no later than July 31, 2026.

What is the rehearsal schedule?

Each SYO ensemble rehearses once a week on Sundays at Onondaga Community College in the Academic II Building. SOYSO rehearses from 1-3pm and SOYO rehearses from 4-6:30pm. It is expected that students report to rehearsals no later than 15 minutes prior to the start for proper warm up.

What is the attendance policy?

Attendance at all rehearsals, dress rehearsals, and concerts is absolutely essential to the success of the orchestra. Students are required to be present for all dress rehearsals (the rehearsal one week prior to the concert), sound checks on concert day, as well as all performances. It is expected that students report to rehearsals/sound checks no later than 15 minutes prior to the start for proper warm up.

Unexcused absences are not tolerated. Students are allowed no more than 1 excused absence per cycle (i.e. illness or family emergencies). Unexcused absences, frequent tardiness, or exceeding the allotted number of excused absences can result in reseating, removal from the concert cycle, and/or removal from the ensemble at the discretion of the Music Director and Conductor.

Excused Absences must be requested using the Absence Request Form no later than 24 hours prior to the start of rehearsal. Absence Request Forms submitted later than this will be considered unexcused absences except in the case of emergencies.

What are the expectations for School Music Participation for students enrolled in SYO?

Students are expected to participate in their school music programs. By participating in their school music program, the student benefits by playing their instrument daily, rehearsing with others on a regular basis, becoming a better musician, and playing a vital role in helping to build meaningful music programs in the schools and communities. Limited exceptions apply for students who are home schooled or have an academic requirement that prohibits participation.

These should be discussed with the Youth Orchestra Coordinator and Music Director.

Do I need to take private lessons to participate in SYO?

Taking private lessons completely enhances the student’s learning process and their ability to make music at an even higher level in SYO rehearsals and outside practice and preparation. Private lessons are required to be eligible for SOYO. Private teacher name and contact information will be required in the registration process and confirmation will be made with the teacher during the audition process. For students in SOYSO, private lessons are not required but are highly recommended.

Can I participate in multiple ensembles?

Students may be permitted to audition for two ensembles on different instruments. Audition and tuition fees must be paid for each separate audition and each ensemble enrolled in. On select occasions, students will be asked by the Music Director to provide assistance, support, or coverage of a part in another ensemble. In these instances, additional tuition payment will not be required.

2026-27 SYO Handbook coming soon!

Coming soon!