The Youth Orchestra of Bucks County (YOBC) offers students a challenging musical program to supplement their school music programs. We provide classical music training for students from ages 8-18 in string, wind, and symphonic ensembles. Since its founding in 1991, more than 1,000 students have participated in YOBC. We offer approximately 25 weeks of rehearsals and two performances annually for all of our ensembles. The fall concert takes place in November and the spring concert takes place in April.

Moveup auditions for current students are held in April of each year. Auditions for new students take place in May. A concerto competition is open to all sophomores and juniors in our advanced division (for more information, see links to the left).

In addition to our weekly program, YOBC offers students opportunities for peer mentoring, a chance to meet other kids who love music, advanced performing opportunities, and professionally run master classes for all instrumental groups.

Special events in our 2007-08 season included a master class with cellist Jeffrey Solow of Temple University and a day-long event with the Washington Saxophone Quartet. The Washington Saxophone Quartet provided master classes for our Wind Ensemble students and presented an evening concert which included a side-by-side performance with our own outstanding saxophone section from the Wind Ensemble. YOBC is currently in discussion with the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia to bring a string quartet to YOBC sometime in the 2009-10 season to conduct master classes and do a joint performance with our Symphony and Philharmonia string players.

New this year, we will offer Crossing Cultural Boundaries (see the link on the left for more information)--a collaboration with WXPN, the University of Pennsylvania radio station. At the 20th Anniversary Gala Concert in May 2011, YOBC will be joined by Chris Brubeck and Triple Play. Watch our news page for updates.

Other special events include field trips (past trips have been to Washington, DC and New York City) and International Tours (see links to left for more information regarding these offerings).

In an effort to make YOBC programs available to all qualified students, we also offer financial assistance and a Head Start Scholarship. For information on the Head Start Scholarship, see the link to the left.

As we celebrate our 20th anniversary, we continue to grow and expand our programs and offerings. We celebrate our tradition of musical excellence in Bucks County.