ALPHARETTA SYMPHONY Youth orchestras (ASYO)
This intrepid group of young musicians perform in your community, make music with friends, and work with professional musicians all right in Alpharetta!
ABOUT THE ASYO
Founded in 2018, the Alpharetta Symphony Youth Orchestras (ASYO) provide young musicians in the North Fulton area with a dynamic and educational performance experience. Each season runs alongside the school year, from August to May, and features four main concerts that showcase a diverse repertoire of orchestral masterworks, holiday classics, and popular selections spanning centuries and cultures.
The ASYO features multiple ensembles designed to support various levels of experience. Prelude Strings (no audition required) nurtures developing string players, while the newly introduced Wind Orchestra will provide an opportunity for woodwind, brass, and percussion players to further their skills. The Youth Symphony—a full symphony orchestra featuring strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion—is open to more established players.
Beyond large ensemble performances, ASYO musicians can participate in chamber music, collaborate with members of the Alpharetta Symphony, and engage in workshops with special guest artists. Additionally, students without an active band or orchestra program at their school can participate in GMEA auditions through ASYO, provided they maintain active membership for the entire school year.
Our Youth Ensembles
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Prelude Strings
Designed to support young beginners in string instruments, open to elementary through high school students (no audition required).
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Wind Orchestra
Our newest ensemble for woodwinds, brass, and percussion, open to middle and high school students.
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Youth Symphony
A full symphony orchestra for more advanced players, including strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion for middle and high school students.
2025-26 AUDITION INFORMATION
The Alpharetta Symphony Youth Orchestras will be accepting audition tapes for the 2025-26 season from May 18, 2025, to August 18, 2025, at 11:59pm. In-person auditions are available by appointment on August 18, 2025, at Preston Ridge Community Center. Our ensembles include the Youth Orchestra, the newly introduced Youth Wind Orchestra, and Prelude Strings (beginning strings – no audition required).
For more information or to schedule an audition during the season, please use the form at the bottom of this page.
*Members from previous seasons should submit a 2 minute video of the audition requirements, along with the audition form.
Audition Requirements
For strings, woodwinds, brass, piano, harp:
2 major scales (2 or 3 octaves)
2 contrasting pieces (e.g. solo, etude, orchestral excerpt) written for your instrument)
For percussion:
1 excerpt or etude for timpani
1 excerpt or etude for auxiliary instrument
Please click the buttons below to fill out the audition form and pay the $25 application fee to schedule your audition:
2024-25 MEMBERSHIP
Students who are accepted into the Alpharetta Symphony Youth Orchestras must read the ASYO Handbook, complete the Membership Form, and pay their Tuition. Links to the form and to pay tuition can be found at the bottom of the Member Handbook. Membership tuition is due on or before the first rehearsal of each "semester" (August-November/December and January-May). ASYO Tuition pricing for the 2024-2025 Season is $500 for the full season or $300 per semester. Pricing for Prelude Strings is $250 for the full season or $150 per “semester.”
2025-26 MEMBERSHIP INFO COMING SOON!
Meet the Team
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Education and Outreach Director
BARBARAANN BONGIOVANNI
Barbaraann Bongiovanni is the Education and Outreach Director for the Alpharetta Symphony, overseeing the Youth Orchestra and Chamber Music Outreach Program. A professional clarinetist with degrees from Bowling Green University and DePaul University, she studied with J. Lawrie Bloom of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Barbaraann has performed with ensembles across the U.S. and currently plays with the Alpharetta Symphony, Alpharetta Symphony Woodwind Quintet, DeKalb Symphony, Georgia Philharmonic, and Titan Winds Quintet.
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Youth Symphony and Prelude Strings Conductor
KIM STOCKSDALE
Kim Stocksdale serves as the conductor of the Alpharetta Symphony Youth Orchestras. Ms. Stocksdale has 15 years of experience as a music educator. Most recently, she directed the Forsyth Central High School Orchestra as well as the Little Mill Middle School Orchestra Club. She maintains a private lesson studio offering lessons for violin, viola, cello, and piano. Ms. Stocksdale is currently a member of the Alpharetta Symphony and Forsyth Symphony Orchestra, where she plays violin. -
YOUTH OPERATIONS COORDINATOR
REBECA GRIFFITH
2024-25 REHEARSALS AND CONCERTS
Rehearsals and concerts will generally be held on Sundays from 5:00-7:00PM. All rehearsals take place at Preston Ridge Community Center (Preston Ridge Road, Ste. 100, Alpharetta, next to the Alpharetta YMCA).
REHEARSALS
Cycle 1: Sept 15, Sept 22, Sept 29, Oct 6, Oct 13, Oct 20
Cycle 2: Nov 3, Nov 10 (Venue TBA), Nov 17, Dec 1, Dec 8
Cycle 3: Jan 12, Jan 19, Jan 26, Feb 2, Feb 9, Feb 23, Mar 2
Cycle 4: Mar 16, Mar 23, Mar 30, Apr 13, Apr 20, Apr 27, May 4
CONCERTS
Concert 1: October 27, 2024 at 5:30pm
Innovation Academy (125 Milton Ave, Alpharetta)Concert 2: December 15, 2024
North Point Mall (1000 North Point Cir, Alpharetta, near the Macy’s indoor entrance)Concert 3: March 9, 2025 at 5:30pm
Innovation Academy (125 Milton Ave, Alpharetta)Concert 4: May 11, 2025 at 5:30pm
Innovation Academy (125 Milton Ave, Alpharetta)
Workshop
Workshop featuring Jake Hood, Director of Orchestras at Alpharetta High School
March 30, 2025 at 5:30pm
Preston Ridge Community Center (Preston Ridge Road, Ste. 100, Alpharetta, next to the Alpharetta YMCA)
Learn more about the ASYO
Interested in learning more about the Alpharetta Symphony Youth Orchestras? Fill out this form and a member of our team will get back to you.