Violin, Viola, Cello, String Bass, Flute, Piccolo, Clarinet, Oboe, Bassoon, Trumpet, Horn, Trombone, Tuba, and Percussion
Symphony Orchestra
Symphony Orchestra
Winter/Spring 2025-26 Chair Auditions
Symphony Orchestra
Fall 2025 Chair Order
| Symphony Orchestra | ||||
| Violin I | Violin 2 | Viola | Cello | Double Bass |
| Daniel Chang | Leonardo Aptilon | Alexis Chang | Michael Fang | Clare O’Malley |
| Caleb Park | Ava Ciccio | Preston Elliott | Tiarra Johnston | Lincoln Helms |
| Matthew Fang | Joshua Burroughs | Louis Brown | Grahm Heller | Jude Goodpasture |
| Neil Joshi | Caroline Lee | Alex Velasco-Crates | Katja Jacimovic | |
| Yiqiao Wang | Isabella Lee | Alison Chung | Nikos Lipscomb | |
| Evan Nugent | Eloïse Seiler | Aleena Legion | Naasif Ahmed | |
| Etina Roelofs | Gisue Lim | Sofia Pedraza-Si | Aubrey Kudzia | |
| Brodie Stone | Ashly Silva | Kate Hagan | Hyein Song | |
| Eliana Simon | Lucas Park | Roland Andrews | Kimora Heath | |
| Shuyun Li | Isabel Franz | Anna Qi | Chloe Han | |
| Katherine Medina | Katherine Howe | Theodore Henning | ||
| Myna Singh | Hattie Young | |||
| Athul Prasad | Claire Messerli | |||
| Jewel An | Daniel Hoff | |||
| Sharon Lee | ||||
| Kai Soo | ||||
| Flute | Oboe | Clarinet | Bassoon | |
| Alex Saddler | Lucia Ohly | Noah Floyd | Henry Wheat | |
| Kai Templeton | Mollie Domoney | Arnav Jampana | Bryce Hopkins | |
| Andrew Thompson | Olivia Wang | Madison Smith | ||
| Horn | Trumpet | Tuba | Timpani | |
| Elianna Okediji | Jesse Mack | Matthew Bryan | Anthony Seck | |
| Kate Deardorff | Tessa Chaffee | |||
| Anne Perry-Parrish | ||||
| Caelin Marien-McManus |
Youth Symphony Classes in Kansas City
Our Symphony Orchestra is an advanced full orchestra in our Senior School.
Prof. Steven D. Davis, Conductor
The Symphony Orchestra performs standard orchestral repertoire from the Late Romantic period onwards.
Historical performance highlights include international tours to Europe as well as performances at Carnegie Hall. In September 2011, the Symphony Orchestra gave the first free public performance at Helzberg Hall at the new Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts on its opening day. During the 2012-2013 season, the ensemble was selected to perform for the Missouri Music Education Association’s 75th Annual In-Service Workshop/Conference in Osage Beach, Mo.
In 2013-2014, Symphony Orchestra performed at the Kansas Music Educators Association In-Service Workshop and in December 2014, the orchestra performed at the Midwest Clinic – International Band and Orchestra Conference in Chicago, Ill.
Musicians accepted into Symphony and Classical Orchestra are eligible to also participate in YSKC’s Touring Orchestra.
Historical Touring Orchestra highlights include performances across Ireland in 2016 and in 2018 in Austria as a part of Youth Symphony of Kansas City’s 60th Anniversary Season. In 2023, the Orchestra performed Respighi’s “Pines of Rome” and Stolzel’s “City Beautiful” at Carnegie Hall in New York.
Highlights
Senior School: Grades 11-12
See Tuition page for more information
Works for Full Symphonic Orchestra from the Late Romantic Period onwards, Recently performed works include Respighi’s “Pines of Rome,” Tchaikovsky’s 4th Symphony, Brahms’s “Variations on a Theme by Haydn” and Higdon’s “blue cathedral.”
Symphony Orchestra rehearses for 3 hours on Sunday afternoons.
In 2025-2026, rehearsals will take place between the hours of 3-6 p.m.*
*please note that times, locations and durations are subject to change
90
Creativity takes Community
Grow together
Meet Steve Davis
Conductor Steven D. Davis is a lauded, versatile, and cosmopolitan conductor who has inspired ensembles around the world. In constant demand as a guest conductor, he has conducted across four continents, working with ensembles in cities such as Bangkok, Beijing, Lisbon, Sydney, and regularly conducts in his favorite city, Kansas City.
Davis has worked to break down barriers as a conductor by leading performances across many genres. He has been celebrated as a conductor of wind ensembles, orchestras, opera, ballet, and cutting-edge new music ensembles, in addition to conducting symphonic repertoire of historically significant composers.
From the Musicians
"I have been in this program for 7 years, and each Sunday I look forward to playing amazing pieces with the most advanced student musicians Kansas City has to offer. It is important to have creative inspiration in one’s music career, and YSKC is the perfect motivating source."
Carter Medina
Orchestra:
Symphony Orchestra
Favorite Color:
Pink!
Instrument Played:
Cello
Involvement in YSKC:
2015-2024
Upcoming Performances
YSKC Presents: Handel’s Messiah & More! – YSKC String Orchestra
416 W 12th St, Kansas City, MO 64105
Dec 13
Sat,
7:00 PM
2025
YSKC Presents: Chamber Showcase Winter
6401 Wornall Terrace, Kansas City MO 64113
Feb 19
Thu,
7:00 PM
2026
Growth Through Music Classical Festival
1601 Broadway Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64108
Mar 09
Mon,
6:30 PM
2026
YSKC Presents: Solo Showcase Spring
6401 Wornall Terrace, Kansas City MO 64113
Mar 12
Thu,
7:00 PM
2026
Ready to join YSKC?
View our 2025/2026 audition information to learn more!
About YSKC
YSKC was founded as The Youth Symphony of the Heart of America by Leo Scheer consisting of an orchestra of 80 musicians, 22 and younger. Incorporated in 1958, YSKC has enjoyed a vibrant history as the musical home to students in Kansas City. Today, the Youth Symphony of Kansas City serves more than 400 musicians in grades 5-12 and is comprised of four full orchestras, a preparatory strings ensemble, multiple ancillary programs, the Opus 76 Quartet Residency, and our new YSKC Academy program. Throughout its 65 years of programming, YSKC has built an alumni class of more than 10,000, completed international tours to Austria, Canada, Germany, Ireland, Italy, and Spain, and performed at numerous prestigious festivals and conferences nationwide.
