Celebrating over 50 years of making music in Maine.
Founded in 1972, the Maine Youth Orchestra is Maine’s longest running classical music ensemble for youth.
Our mission is to give student musicians from southern, midcoast, and central Maine the unique opportunity to play in an orchestra under professional direction.
Join us for our 2024
Spring Concert
Friday, May 3rd at 7:30pm
Freeport Performing Arts Center
30 Holbrook Street, Freeport, Maine
Admission is by donation and there will be a reception following the performance.
AUDITION
We are looking for young musicians to join our ensemble — especially string players!
Our Process
The Maine Youth Orchestra rehearses at the Freeport High School band room located at 30 Holbrook St, Freeport, Maine on Tuesday evenings from 6:15pm - 7:45pm. Students receive coaching from professional musicians in Maine at each rehearsal, playing alongside peers and members of Maine’s professional music ensembles at all rehearsals and performances. Each semester we hold at least one performance open to the community and often collaborate with other local ensembles and school music programs, such as the Greely High School Madrigals, Curva via Orchestra of Paris, the Island Beats, and the Augusta Symphony Orchestra. Interested students may also perform at outreach concerts at schools, museums, and government offices throughout the area, as well as in small ensembles.
Our Students
We welcome students in 6th - 12th grade with a range of experience levels to our ensemble. Students come to us from across counties, school districts, and homeschool communities. Proficiency among our musicians ranges from early-intermediate to pre-professional levels. For musicians to excel in the Maine Youth Orchestra, we encourage students to have played their instrument for at least one year before auditioning to join.
Young musicians affiliated with the Maine Youth Orchestra go on to shine at All State and District competitions. High school seniors are given the opportunity to perform a concerto for their instrument as a capstone performance. The Maine Youth Orchestra has been proud to support many students who have gone on to attend music schools such as Julliard, New England Conservatory, Manhattan School of Music, Eastman School of Music and Oberlin Conservatory. Many of our alumni are professional musicians and teachers or amateur musicians with community orchestras. We are equally proud of our students who pursue careers in technology, environmental science, education, medicine, and other STEM fields.
Our Repertoire
The Maine Youth Orchestra plays a mix of classical, contemporary, and pops pieces each semester. Recent concerts have included compositions by Beethoven, Holst, Brahms, Bizet, Howard Shore, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, and even an original work by our maestro, Ben David Richmond.
“The Maine Youth Orchestra is a great place — it’s fun and helps you meet new people.”
— Gabriele Ouellette