The Denver Young Artists Orchestra (DYAO) is Colorado’s premier youth symphony program, serving talented young musicians ages 7 to 23 from across the Rocky Mountain region. As a nationally respected youth orchestra based in Denver, DYAO provides exceptional orchestral training that complements and elevates a student’s musical education.

Through rigorous rehearsals, inspiring performances, and mentorship from professional musicians, DYAO transforms the lives of young artists, developing not only technical excellence, but leadership, resilience, and a lifelong connection to symphonic music.

DYAO alumni have gone on to attend top universities and conservatories and perform with renowned organizations such as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Metropolitan Opera, the Colorado Symphony, and many other leading ensembles. Beyond professional music careers, DYAO alumni contribute meaningfully to their communities as educators, arts advocates, and engaged cultural leaders. Please read more about our mission here.

Founded in 1977, DYAO has more than four decades of experience shaping the musical and personal development of young artists. What began as a single youth orchestra has grown into one of the most respected youth symphony programs in the Rocky Mountain region, known for its artistic excellence, innovative programming, and commitment to student growth. Read about our values here.

DYAO’s mission is to inspire young musicians and audiences through exceptional orchestral training, meaningful performance opportunities, and innovative pathways to symphonic music. Rooted in the values of access, care, belonging, and inclusion, DYAO empowers young artists from all backgrounds to grow with confidence, resilience, and a shared commitment to reimagining the future of symphonic music.

Please visit our upcoming events page and subscribe to our Newsletter Email List to get all the up to date information on upcoming concerts and events.

Our phone number is (303) 433-2420. We are located at 1245 Champa Street in Denver, CO 80204. You can also contact us on our online form 

For questions relating to outreach and engagement or ticketing, contact Gabriel at gabriel.costache@dyao.org

For questions regarding marketing and the annual fund, contact Jon at jon.bee@dyao.org 

For general questions about the DYAO program or auditions, contact Rachael at rachael.delange@dyao.org 

To reach the Executive Director, contact Michael at michael.williams@dyao.org

DYAO recognizes that orchestral music has historically excluded many voices and is committed to building a more inclusive future for symphonic music. Each season, at least 25% of DYAO’s repertoire features works by historically underrepresented composers, with recent seasons reaching 30–35%.

DYAO advances equity and access through multilingual communication (English and Spanish), accessible programming, inclusive hiring and board practices, and outreach initiatives such as Tune Up and Musical Pathways, which expand music education opportunities across diverse schools and communities. DYAO also collaborates annually with community and arts organizations that represent underrepresented histories and voices. Read more about our DEI initiatives here.

DYAO has four orchestras, including:

• Young Artists Orchestra (YAO): Colorado’s most advanced youth symphony orchestra consisting of approximately 90 students ages 12-23. 
• Conservatory Orchestra (CO): This full orchestra consists of approximately 70 members ages 10-19 and performs intermediate to advanced orchestral works. 
• Allegro Strings (AS): Young string players ages 10-17 preparing for more advanced orchestral literature and solidifying ensemble playing techniques. 
• String Ensemble (SE):  Young string players ages 7-13 explore string orchestra literature and develop their ensemble-playing skills. 

Please visit our Orchestras page for more information.

DYAO is committed to programming a diverse orchestral repertoire that balances the classical canon with contemporary and emerging works. Each season, DYAO ensures its programming reflects the community it serves, with at least 25% of repertoire featuring music by historically underrepresented composers—recent seasons have reached approximately 30–35%. 

Recent repertoire includes:

Young Artists Orchestra:

Sibelius: Symphony no. 2, Bernstein: Symphonic Dances from West Side Story, Jennifer Higdon: Cold Mountain Suite, and Beethoven: Symphony No. 3.

Conservatory Orchestra:

Sarasate: Zigeunerweisen, Arturo Márquez: Conga del Fuego Nuevo and Danzón No. 2, Price: Symphony no. 1 (mvt. II, III), and Copland: “Hoedown” from Rodeo.

String Ensemble/Allegro Strings

Vivaldi: Concerto for Strings RV121, Britten: Simple Symphony mvt. I, Rutter: Suite for Strings, mvt. IV, and Price: The Old Boatman.

DYAO strives to provide students with opportunities to play in a variety of spaces, including professional spaces such as Colorado Symphony’s Boettcher Concert Hall, as well as community spaces such as University of Denver’s Lamont School of Music, Littleton United Methodist Church, and Central Presbyterian Church. We also perform at special venues, some recent examples being the Denver Museum of Contemporary Art and Parker School House Theater. Please see our events page for upcoming performances.

We release information for the following season mid to late March. Please check our Auditions page for more details, as locations and dates change yearly.

Please visit our Audition page in the Spring for updated registration information for the next season. DYAO does have limited openings for specific instruments in each of our ensembles, so please visit our Audition page to learn more, and contact Rachael, the Program and Orchestra Manager for related questions at rachael.delange@dyao.org

Audition requirements may include scales, a short solo, and orchestral excerpts. Requirements vary depending on your instrument and the ensemble for which you will audition. Please reference our Auditions page for more information on what to play for the audition.

You can be considered for more than one orchestra. If you are considering auditioning for two orchestras, for example, the Young Artists Orchestra and the Conservatory Orchestra, be sure to prepare the repertoire for the higher level orchestra and only audition one time. (You will only be placed in one ensemble).

Within 1-2 weeks following the last day of the live audition or the final deadline for video auditions. We evaluate auditions as a whole before judging and releasing results.

There is a small fee for auditions to help cover organizational costs. For information on audition fee waivers, please contact Rachael at rachael.delange@dyao.org

Young Artists Orchestra – $1,300

Conservatory Orchestra – $1,050

Allegro Strings/String Ensemble – $800

Tuition includes weekly rehearsals, coached sectionals, performances, and a yearly retreat. YAO tuition includes a side-by-side concert with the Colorado Symphony. There are scholarship and payment plans available. Please see the tuition and scholarships page for more information.

In order to be eligible for financial aid, you must first be accepted into an ensemble. Once accepted, there is a scholarship form available.

Please visit our Orchestras page for more information on all 4 of our ensembles.

String Ensemble, Allegro Strings, and Conservatory Orchestra do three concerts per year. Young Artists Orchestra does 4 to 6 concerts per year.

Concerts are free for students and teachers! Adult tickets are $20, Senior tickets are $15, and Group tickets (8+) are $12.

Please see our upcoming shows and events page to purchase tickets.

DYAO professionally records its concerts. These recordings may be available for sale to DYAO families. Parents and family members are not permitted to video record concerts in whole or in part on any type of device (phone, camera, etc).

You can visit and follow us on our YouTube channel for content.

The Young Artists Orchestra, DYAO’s flagship ensemble, goes on tour every 2-3 years, alternating between domestic and international locations. Families will be notified in advance, and cost varies based on location.

DYAO maintains a strong collaborative partnership with the Colorado Symphony, highlighted by an annual Side-by-Side concert that brings young musicians together with professional orchestral artists. The next Side-by-Side performance takes place on Wednesday, March 11 at 7:30 PM at Boettcher Concert Hall. Find more information here

We do not have a formal chamber music program at this time. DYAO encourages students to form their own small ensembles and works with them when performance opportunities become available. Please contact Gabriel at gabriel.costache@dyao.org for more information.

DYAO offers a concerto competition annually for each of our four ensembles, as well as one additional concerto competition for the Young Artists Orchestra specifically for woodwind, brass, and percussion students. More information about these competitions is available to current students in the DYAO handbook.

• Pathways
• Tune Up
• Annual Retreats
• Outreach performance opportunities

Reach out to Gabriel at gabriel.costache@dyao.org to see if your event aligns with musician availability and alignment with DYAO’s organizational goals.

Small ensembles or individuals could be available based on availability and alignment with DYAO’s organizational goals. Please contact Gabriel at gabriel.costache@dyao.org to learn more.

• Attend our concerts and events!
• Visit our volunteer page to learn more about volunteer opportunities https://dyao.org/volunteer/ 
• Visit our Sponsorship and Ways to Give pages for donation information.
• Encourage young musicians to audition for DYAO
• Add us to your King Soopers Community Rewards

Please contact our Executive Director at michael.williams@dyao.org

Please see our gallery for student photos. Audio and video recordings are available for sale to DYAO families. 

For concert recordings, please fill out a recording request form at the merch table during any DYAO concert.

You can also visit and follow us on our YouTube channel for more content!

Please see our blog here!

Please find the student portal here.

Log in to the Student Portal and look for the Attendance Policy & Handbook page.

Contact Rachael, the Program and Orchestra Manager at rachael.delange@dyao.org for specific questions.

Contact Gabriel, the Outreach Coordinator at gabriel.costache@dyao.org for questions about outreach performance opportunities.