Youth Orchestra Member Info

For the safety of our students we have moved all three chamber group's rehearsals and YSO's rehearsal location to the Billingshurst Band Room today 11/18 at their regular times. There is no heat at McKinley Arts & Culture and it will get to below freezing temperatures during our rehearsal time.

Please check the calendar linked below for current schedule.

Questions? Contact education@renophil.com, or call (775) 323-6393.

Click buttons below to access the RPYO handbook and calendars.

Still accepting applications for the following instruments:

  • French Horn

  • Trombone

  • Tuba

  • Viola

  • Bass

Please email education@renophil.com if you play one of the above instruments and would like to apply.

RPYO Concerto competition

Every year, RPYO music students and local pianists are invited to participate in the annual RPYO Concerto Competition. The competition is optional, but all RPYO students are encouraged to apply.

The 2025 Concerto Competition is currently being planned and will be held in November of 2025.

2024 Winners

The 2024 Concerto Competition took place on November 2, 2024 at Steinway Piano Gallery, in Reno, Nevada.

Senior Piano Division  

1st Place Winner: Adrian Lin 

2nd Place Winner: Drew Barthel 

Senior Strings Division  

1st Place Winner: Juliet Aiazzi Palmer 

2nd Place Winner: Stacy Nam 

Winds/Brass/Percussion Division  

1st Place Winner: Millie Casey-Marks 

2nd Place Winner: Lexi Hudson 

Junior Strings Division  

1st Place Winner: Nika Kalanaki 

2nd Place Winner: Dominic Hernandez 

Junior Piano Division 

No contestants this year  

Grand Prize Winners:
Adrian Lin - Piano and Millie Casey-Marks - Tuba

Runner-Up: Juliet Aiazzi Palmer - Strings

Tuition & financial aid

Student tuition doesn’t even cover half of the operating expenses of our Youth Orchestra program. Thanks to private donors and education grants, we are able to keep tuition costs for students as low as possible.

Tuition by ACH/debit (preferred), credit card, cash, or check is due at the time of music pick up each July.

Payment or auto-pay enrollment is required before music is given out or e-mailed.

  • Youth String Ensemble (YSE) – $100/year

  • Youth Strings Symphonia (YSS) – $150/year

  • Youth Concert Orchestra (YCO) – $400/year

  • Youth Symphony Orchestra (YSO) – $450/year

    • YSO Tour - $600 ($200 September, $200 November, $200 February)

    • Chamber Ensemble - $50/semester

We also offer an automatic monthly payment option to spread tuition over 10 equal monthly payments:

YSE, $10/month, & YSS $15/month, YCO $40/month, YSO $45/month.

Financial aid is also available. Request Financial Aid via the Registration Link.

want to volunteer?

Volunteers are often needed for events, rehearsal days, and auditions.

If you are interested in volunteering for the youth orchestras, please contact the Reno Phil Volunteer Coordinator, Skyler Bunn.