In 1955, Sylvia Kunin set out to create a premiere training ground for young musicians in Los Angeles. With the assistance of legendary musicians Gregor Piatigorsky and Elmer Bernstein, Young Musicians Foundation and its Debut Orchestra was born.

Now celebrating its 55th Season, the Debut Orchestra is one of the oldest pre-professional training orchestras in the country; comprised of 70 talented musicians from around the world, ages 15-25. With notable alumni including Glenn Dicterow, Concertmaster of the New York Philharmonic, Robert Chen, Concertmaster of the Chicago Symphony, and over 50 members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, virtually every major symphony orchestra and film score feature a performer who began their career in this orchestra.

Currently led by Maestro Case Scaglione, the orchestra presents a series of free concerts for the public at the Broad Stage in Santa Monica, including several outreach performances to underserved neighborhoods across Los Angeles. The orchestra’s rich history includes more than 41 world premieres, including works by such renowned composers as Igor Stravinsky, Ingolf Dahl, and Michael Torke.

The orchestra adheres to a professional rehearsal schedule and performs the full range of orchestra literature, from Baroque to 21st– Century, including works for both chamber and full orchestra. For more than 50 consecutive seasons, the orchestra has performed admission free concerts for the public in professional venues throughout Los Angeles, with audiences totaling more than 5,000 annually.

Always looking to present new experiences for both the ensemble and audience, the 2009-2010 season will feature a retrospective of Arvo Part’s music as the world celebrates the famed Estonian composer’s 75th birthday. Maestro Scaglione will also lead the ensemble in a YMF first — a fully staged production of Act II from Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde.

Musicians are selected each year through blind auditions adjudicated by members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and other eminent, Los Angeles–based musicians. Orchestra members receive a scholarship to support their studies. The thousands of Debut alumni in orchestras around the world illustrate the importance and success of the training they receive.

Elegibility

Musicians ages 15–25 as of October 1st of the year of the auditions.

Auditions/Openings

Auditions for the 2010-2011 season will be held in September of 2010.

Download: Applications will be available in June 2010.

String Players:

There are always opening for string players on our alternative list. For more information, please contact the Interim Debut Orchestra Personnel Manager, Camille Couture-Carter

Season Overview

See Upcoming Events.