Academy Orchestra

The YSKC Academy Orchestra is an advanced full orchestra made up of young musicians in grades 9-12. Academy Orchestra performs movements of standard orchestral repertoire as well as original compositions and arrangements.

In addition to its standard performance calendar, Academy Orchestra has performed at the Martin Luther King, Jr. State Celebration Commission’s annual concert, for the Kansas City Chinese-American Association Chinese New Year Celebration and other special performance opportunities including exchange concerts with other regional youth orchestra programs.

Musicians of Academy Orchestra and Symphony Orchestra joined together to form the YSKC Touring Orchestra, performing across Ireland in 2016 and again in 2018 in Austria, as a part of Youth Symphony of Kansas City’s 60th Anniversary Season.

Russ Pieken is the current conductor of the Academy Orchestra.