2013 SUMMER SESSION (June 11-July 16)

NYS receives SUPERIOR rating at May 11 High Note Music Festival!

Founded in February of 2000, the Northside Youth Symphony is a non-profit organization for string/wind/percussion students from the Chicagoland area. Entering our 13th year, we serve primarily elementary/middle school aged musicians from the North Side. We do accept high school musicians as well. NYS rehearses at Northside College Prep HS (5501 N Kedzie) every Tuesday evening. We offer FREE tuition for EVERY qualified student. In return, participation in a fundraiser each semester is required. We have much to be proud of the last 12 years...one of the biggest highlights being sast May's concert with the internationally recognized string ensemble Barrage. In 2011 select students participated in Chicago's "Youth in Music Festival", gaining valuable insight in the Citizen Musicianship movement and hearing Riccardo Muti and Yo Yo Ma speak. We were also graced by the lovely exposure to Ellie Kirk's harp solos and getting to play alongside her. 2010 marked our 10 year anniversary and many of our alumni returned to perform with us. 2008/09 was exciting for us as we introduced the new "World Music" curriculum. Students learned about the culture, history and lifestyles of the traditional European composers by performing programs that showcased the Viennese Classical Tradition with a video presentation of Vienna and guest quartet performance/master class from the Lake Shore Symphony as well as the Eastern European Romantic composers and guest appearance by members of the Maxwell St. Klezmer Band. America's own ethnic roots and folk music were further explored during our trip to the American String Festival "Melodies that Moved Lincoln and the Nation" held at the Univ of IL (Urbana-Champaign.) In 2006 NYS performed at the ASTA National Conference in Kansas City as part of the National Orchestra Festival. In years past we have also had guest artists perform with us such as the late legendary jazz violinist, Johnny Frigo, the Bow-Dacious String Band and the Lincoln Elem Jazz Band. So whether you are a beginner just learning to read music or an advanced junior high student looking for a challenging chamber ensemble, the Northside Youth Symphony has something for everyone. NYS is an exciting group to belong to. So browse thru our site and contact us! We'd love to meet you!