Ensembles
To accommodate different playing levels, students can audition for the Ruth Borun Concert Orchestra, an intermediate level ensemble and the Symphony Orchestra, for more advanced players. Admittance to both ensembles require an audition. The Ruth Borun Concert Orchestra typically performs quality arrangements of classical and contemporary music, whereas the Symphony Orchestra performs standard and contemporary repertoire much like professional orchestras. The Contemporary Adventure Ensemble, debuting in May 2019, is LAYO’s most advanced group.
Ruth Borun Concert Orchestra
Formerly known as the Concert Orchestra, the Ruth Borun Concert Orchestra was renamed in 2019 to honor the memory of Ruth, a significant patron, friend, and believer in the Los Angeles Youth Orchestra since its inception. Ruth and her husband, Dr. Raymond Borun, became the first principal donors of LAYO shortly after the orchestra began in 2000. The Ruth Borun Concert Orchestra is led by Assistant Conductor Jorge Padrón, and features our intermediate musicians performing such works as Saint-Saëns' "Bacchanale" from Sampson and Delilah, Vivaldi's "Summer" in a backyard during the COVID restrictions, Beethoven's Symphony No. 1, Rachmaninoff's "Vocalise", and a performance of Williams' "Empire Strikes Back" at Carnegie Hall.
Symphony Orchestra
Over the last several years, the level of the Symphony Orchestra has risen dramatically, attracting some of the brightest young talent from throughout Los Angeles. Reflecting this growth, the orchestra has performed standard repertoire including Copland’s Appalachian Spring, Brahms’ Symphonies No. 1 and 4, Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony, and Beethoven’s Symphonies No. 1 and 3, as well as World Premieres of new works including Steinberg’s Alternative Energy and The Net of Indra.
