Charlotte Symphony Youth Orchestras

Join the CSYO!
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Please contact us at csyo@charlottesymphony.org if you have audition questions. |
Meet our Conductors |
Christopher James Lees - CSYO Conductor and Resident Conductor of the Charlotte SymphonyChristopher James Lees serves as the Resident Conductor of the Charlotte Symphony and has 15 years of experience conducting secondary, university, and honors-level orchestras all across the country. In addition to his extensive professional work, he also has served on the college faculties of the University of Michigan, Kent State University, and the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. The Charlotte Symphony Youth Orchestra Conductor Chair is made possible by a generous gift from The Symphony Guild of Charlotte. Eric Thompson III - CSYE Conductor![]() Eric L. Thompson, III serves as the Conductor for the Charlotte Symphony Youth Ensemble. He received his Bachelor of Music from the Curtis Institute of Music in 2007 where he held the Robert Ehrman Fellowship. There he studied with Grammy Award Winning and MacArthur "Genius" Edgar Meyer and Harold Robinson, principal bass of the Philadelphia Orchestra. Eric is the recipient of many awards-he is the first bassist to become a laureate of the Sphinx Competition, he was awarded second place in the ASTA National Solo Competition, and in 2002 he was awarded a musicians union scholarship from the American Federation of Musicians and the rank of Eagle Scout by the National Eagle Scout Association of Boy Scouts of America. Since 2013, Eric Thompson has been teaching orchestra at the Phillip O. Berry Academy of Technology and Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School. His students have participated in CMS All-District Honors Orchestra, Western Regional Orchestra, Charlotte Symphony Youth Orchestra, Youth Orchestra of Charlotte, All State Orchestra, NC Governor's School, Interlochen Arts Camp, UNCG Summer Music Camp and University of North Carolina School of the Arts. Mr. Thompson has been recognized many times as an educator, most recently with the Outstanding Music Educator Award in 2019 by the Youth Orchestras of Charlotte and the Crowning Achievement Award in Music Education in 2020 by the Crown Jewels Chapter, The Links, Incorporated. Christopher Warren-Green - CSO Music Director![]() A product of community music education himself, CSO Music Director Christopher Warren-Green plays a key role in the Charlotte Symphony Youth Orchestras. Warren-Green makes regular visits to work with both orchestras. |
Ensembles |
Charlotte Symphony Youth Orchestra (CSYO)The Charlotte Symphony Youth Orchestra is our advanced level ensemble, performs professional level symphonic repertoire, and is composed of extraordinary musicians between the ages of 12-18. CSYO musicians will have the opportunity to perform side-by-side with members of the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra. CSYO Repertoire 2018-2022 (Selected) Bizet: Carmen Suite No. 1 Borodin: Symphony No. 2 (Movements 1 & 3) Coleridge-Taylor: Danse Negre from "African Suite" Coleridge-Taylor: Valse de la Rheine from "Four Characteristic Waltzes" Dvorak: The Wild Dove Elgar: Enigma Variations* Faure: Pellèas et Mélisande Grieg: Symphonic Dances (Movement 1) Handel: Harp Concerto Op. 4 No. 6 Haydn: Symphony No. 100 "Military" (movements 1 & 3) Liszt: Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 Rossini: Overture to Italian in Algiers* Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 2 (Movement 1) "Little Russian" John Corigliano: Elegy Steven Bryant: The Machine Awakes John Williams: Star Wars: Suite for Orchestra (Movement 3) *Conducted by CSO Conductor Laureate Christopher Warren-Green Charlotte Symphony Youth Philharmonic (CSYP)![]() The Charlotte Symphony Youth Philharmonic is our intermediate ensemble, performs advanced high school level repertoire, and is composed of exceptional young musicians between the ages of 8-16. Charlotte Symphony Youth Ensemble (CSYE)The Charlotte Symphony Youth Ensemble is a training ensemble designed to bridge early music education with the Intermediate and Advanced Youth Orchestras. The CSYE will be an introduction to music ensemble learning and provide regular coaching by our Charlotte Symphony musicians and conducting staff. CSYE Fall Registration 2022-23 |
Coaches |
Sectional rehearsals are held frequently throughout the year for both the Charlotte Symphony Youth Orchestra and the Charlotte Symphony Youth Philharmonic. These sectionals offer young musicians the chance to receive coaching by Charlotte Symphony musicians, including the Concert Master and musicians holding principal positions. |
Masterclasses | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Member Portal |
The member portal is only accessible to current CSYO and CSYP members. |
Contact Us |
For more information about this program, please contact: csyo@charlottesymphony.org 704.714.5131 |