Shenandoah Valley Youth Symphony Orchestras

The Shenandoah Valley Youth Symphony Orchestras provide a unique, high-level orchestral experience for advanced pre-collegiate wind, brass, strings, and percussion students of the greater central Shenandoah Valley area. There are three different ensembles in SVYSO that meet at different times throughout the school year.

A student participating in one of our ensembles will:

experience a broad range of symphonic literature
broaden their training in an orchestral setting
experience a high level of music-making
express individual creativity through concerto performances and performances of student compositions
provide an orchestral forum not otherwise available for most wind and percussion players

Fall 2026 Ensemble: Shenandoah Valley Youth Chamber Orchestra

Shenandoah Valley Youth Chamber Orchestra is designed for students playing at an exceptional level.
This ensemble meets during the Fall Semester, ONLY. Admittance is based upon a successful audition.
This ensemble is led by Rhonda Stees.
Fall Cycle: SVYCO
Sunday Rehearsals: 3-5pm
Tuesday Rehearsals: 6:30-8pm
Sunday Oct 11
Tuesday Oct 13
Sunday Oct 18 - 2:30-3pm Sectionals
Tuesday Oct 20
Sunday Oct 25 - 2:30-3pm Sectionals
Tuesday Oct 27
Sunday Nov 1
Tuesday Nov 2
Saturday Nov 7, 3-5pm Dress Rehearsal
Sunday Nov 8, (3pm Call time) 4pm Collaboration Concert with the Shenandoah Valley Children’s Choir
Half Year Tuition (Fall 2026 ONLY)
- $50 Registration Fee
- $100 Semester Tuition
Students that participate in one of the following activities automatically qualify for a $25 tuition reduction:
- Take weekly private lessons
- Participate in their school orchestra or band program

Audition Information

Auditions for the 26-27 Concert Season are open!

Auditions for NEW STUDENTS will take place on the following dates:

Sunday, September 27th, 3-5pm, Lehman Auditorium Room 025
New Students: click here to register for an audition.

Audition Requirements:

Scales: Perform 2 scales in different keys that show your capabilities on your instrument. Take care to listen for accurate intonation and steady tempo!
Solos or Audition selections: Play 2-3 minutes of a solo, etude, or audition piece. Multiple pieces or selections are allowed, but please no more than 3 minutes max. SRO, JRO, and DISTRICT BAND AUDITION MUSIC IS ACCEPTABLE AND WELCOME!
Sightreading: Studentswill be asked to sightread a short excerpt at their live audition.

Auditions for RETURNING STUDENTS will be conducted via video audition. Please email Dr. Ledgerwood if you have not already received the upload link. (philip.ledgerwood@emu.edu)

An official registration form will be sent out after your audition.

Rhonda Stees, SVYSO Music Director

Rhonda Stees is a passionate music educator with a broad and varied experience in instrumental music education which includes public school teaching, college teaching, leading youth community music and a private studio. Mrs. Stees currently teaches as an adjunct faculty at both James Madison University (JMU) and Bridgewater College (BC) in the areas of instrumental music education. Mrs. Stees has served as a JMU University Supervisor for Music Education student teachers for nearly 20 years, and has also taught music appreciation and Instrumental Technique classes, in addition to coaching chamber groups. At BC, Mrs. Stees has taught a variety of music education courses, leads the Chamber Strings, and has taught within the oboe and string studios.

Mrs. Stees has been an active public school educator in Arizona and Virginia. In Virginia, Mrs. Stees taught middle school and high school orchestra and served as the Orchestra Chair for the VA Music Educators Association and the VA Band & Orchestra Directors Association. Her interest in community music education for youth led her to co-found the Massanutten Youth Brass Band in 2010, a regional group of which she is currently Director. She has also served as the wind and percussion Coach, as well as interim conductor, for SVYS for numerous years. Mrs. Stees earned her Bachelor’s Degree at the University of Illinois and a Master of Music from Arizona State University. Mrs. Stees conducts the Youth Chamber Orchestra and Youth Symphony.

Tuition and Scholarship Information

Registration for the 2026 Spring concert cycle is now open. Registration forms are sent directly to students that have completed their audition.

If you’re interested in participating, please sign up for an audition using the form above.

Tuition Costs For SVYCO
(Fall 2026 Audition Cycle)

Half Year Tuition

$50 Registration Fee
$100 Semester Tuition

ALL ELIGIBLE STUDENTS QUALIFY FOR THE SCHOLARSHIP BELOW:

Students that are in one of the following activities qualify for a $25 tuition “Active Musician” scholarship:

Take Weekly Private lessons
Participate in their school orchestra or band program

Following an audition and after the Active Musician scholarship is applied, students who demonstrate additional need may qualify to have further tuition reductions.

Spring 2026 Ensembles