PLAYS welcomes graduate and post-graduate level college players ages 18 to 32.
Each student receives a small stipend. Led by PLA's Artistic Director Alexandra Keegan, this orchestra brings young musicians from all over Southern California together and prepares them for careers in major symphonies.
Twelve experienced professional musicians, who are the PLAYS mentors, will be rehearsing and performing side-by-side with young professionals.
"This Youth Symphony is a wonderful addition to our opera company. It provides young players with professional experience, much needed financial support and new connections.
On January 13th, 2023 our audiences enjoyed the G. Mahler's Symphony No 5. Because of its complexity and extremely difficult orchestra parts, this work is rarely performed by college and university orchestras. It is a "big boy" masterpiece and requires professional skills and advanced musicianship for all players." said Alexandra Keegan, the Artistic Director and conductor of PLA.
In 2022 PLAYS performed Tchaikovsky's Overture Romeo and Juliet and Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade.
The artistic mission of the Pacific Lyric Association Youth Orchestra (PLAYS) is to present classical music in its original and traditional form, and provide professional orchestra experience to young players and new classical music audiences.