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The Symphony Orchestra is open to advanced players of strings, brass, woodwind, percussion, and harp instruments. Students in the Symphony Orchestra should have excellent proficiency in reading music and should be of sufficient behavioral and emotional maturity to concentrate and participate in a weekly, three and a half-hour rehearsal. 

Led by Artistic Director and Founder, Susan Kitterman, Symphony Orchestra is an advanced orchestral experience intended for students who have had extensive previous orchestral or ensemble experience. Placement in the orchestra is by audition.

Participation in the Symphony Orchestra is not intended to replace school or private music lessons.  Students are expected to continue to take weekly private lessons and participate in their school ensembles.

Symphony Orchestra rehearsals occur on Sundays from 1:00 to 4:30 p.m. from September through May, with time off for traditional school holidays. Typically the orchestra rehearses in Lilly Hall on the campus of Butler University. Symphony Orchestra participates in three to four concerts per year as part of the New World Youth Orchestras concert series.

Music selected is that of a typical college orchestra level; past repertoire includes:

- Pictures at an Exhibition, M. Mossorgsky

- Capriccio Espagnol, N. Rimsky-Korsakov

- Gloria, F. Paulenc

- Appalachian Spring, A. Copland

- Symphony No. 5, L. Beethoven

Guest artists of international stature come to solo with Symphony Orchestra. Some past guest artists include Corey Cerovsek, Janos Starker, and Allen Vizzutti, among others.

Guest clinicians and master class coaches, who are members of the Indianapolis Symphony and Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, professors of local music schools, work with the students throughout the year. 

There are also opportunities to participate in chamber ensembles and compete in our Young Artist Competition, which is open to student musicians throughout Indiana. Click here to read more about the Young Artist Competition.

This is a tuition-based organization. Click here to read more about our rates.  Limited scholarships are available in cases of financial need. To read more about financial aid opportunities, see the tuition page. 

To download an application and to learn more about application procedures, click here. To find more information about the New World Youth Orchestras, and Symphony Orchestra, please see visit the rest of our website at www.nwyso.org or contact Executive Director Ruth Wolff at wolff@nwyso.org. Please mail your application and $30 application fee to:

New World Youth Orchestras

Symphony Centre

32 E. Washington Street

Suite 950

Indianapolis, IN 46204