The Youth Orchestras of Fairfax (TYOF) are two ensembles comprised of talented school-aged musicians from the Greater Washington, D.C., area. The Youth Symphony Orchestra of Fairfax (YSO) is an advanced ensemble complete with strings and winds. Students in this group have usually been playing for an average of 5 to 9 years and are in grades 8 - 12.

The Concert Orchestra of Fairfax (CO) features intermediate level strings. Students in this group have usually been playing for at least 3 years and are in grades 5 – 8.

Mission

The mission of The Youth Orchestras of Fairfax (TYOF) is to provide young people with the opportunity to perform first-class orchestral and chamber music, develop their skills through quality instruction, increase their enjoyment of classical music, and contribute to the cultural life of Fairfax County. TYOF also seeks to supplement public and private instruction and to enhance the student’s musical training by offering an expansive and challenging repertoire, unique coaching experiences, and additional performance opportunities.

Vision

The vision of TYOF is a future in which all young musicians in Fairfax County, regardless of income or background, have the opportunity to practice and perform in an orchestra suited to their level of musical development.

Core Values:

• Musical Excellence
• Musician Development
• Community Outreach
• Fun
• Education

Students Benefit by:

• Receiving high-quality musical instruction
• Learning and performing challenging and diverse musical literature outside their public school or private study
• Receiving coaching from talented professional musicians
• Meeting and socializing with peers in a team-building setting outside their own school or community
• Participating in an inclusive environment where they feel valued for their contributions as musicians and creative individuals.

Rehearsals
Rehearsals are held Monday evenings at Holmes Middle School, 6525 Montrose Street, Alexandria, VA 22312. Holmes is located off of Braddock Rd between Backlick and Little River Turnpike.
The CO rehearses from 7:00 to 8:45 pm and the YSO rehearses from 7:15 to 9:00 pm. These rehearsals culminate in three performances for the general public, friends, and family. Concerts are in November, February and May.

Non-Discriminatory Policy

The Youth Orchestras of Fairfax admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students in the orchestra. Also, it does not discriminate on the basis or race, color, national or ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship programs, and other orchestra-administrated programs.

Contact Info

Mailing Address:
TYOF, PO Box 1978, Annandale, VA 22003
Phone: (703) 459-TYOF (703.459.8963)

Email: info@tyof.org
Website: www.tyof.org

Handbook

You can download a copy of the 2009-2010 TYOF Handbook here.

Repertoire

Interested in seeing what kind of music we play?  Here is a list of recent performances.