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By Dr. Elaine Chang Sandoval and Theodore Wiprud with Dr. Karen Yair

Education, community engagement, and youth orchestra work are central to the way many orchestras serve their communities. Across the United States, orchestras are creating opportunities for learning, participation, artistic development, youth engagement, and connection through a remarkable diversity of programs and partnerships.

A 2025 survey of over 100 youth and adult orchestras from the League of American Orchestras presents a national picture of how orchestras are investing in this work and the organizational choices that inform their efforts in different communities.

The findings show that there is no single way to do this well. Every organization we heard from is responding to its own community, its own partners, its own capacity. What emerges is a field that’s broad, adaptable, and valuable to the public it serves.

Register for a free PDF download to learn more about how orchestras across the country are driving change by engaging, teaching, and learning from their local communities.

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Acknowledgements

Authors: Dr. Elaine Chang Sandoval and Theodore Wiprud

Contributing Editor and Project Lead: Dr. Karen Yair, Vice President, Research and Resources

Advisory Group:

  • Colleen Hood, Vice President and COO, PYO Music Institute
  • Jessica Ingraham, Senior Director of Education, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra
  • Randy Wong, President and CEO, Hawaii Youth Symphony
  • Faith Youn, Violin Performance Major, New York University and Student Leadership Council Member, League of American Orchestras

Advisory Group, League Staff:

  • Andrew Anzel, Director, Research and Resources
  • Heather Briere, Director, Learning and Leadership Programs
  • Najean Lee, Director, Government Affairs and Education Advocacy
  • Heather Noonan, Vice President for Advocacy
  • Caen Thomason-Redus, Vice President, Inclusion and Learning

Editor and Creative Director: Rachel Rossos Gallant, Vice President, Marketing and Membership

Photography Manager: Nichole Fehrman, Director, Marketing and Communications

Designer: Melanie O’Neill

Web Layout: Joanna Bettelheim, Digital Manager and Storyteller

Consultees: McKenzie Blanchard, Norlynn Blocker Price, Annissa Bolder, Jeremy Brimhall, Savannah Butler, Amy Chung, Key Crooms, Cindy Cross, Eric Dundon, Josh East, Corey Henke, Jérémy Jolley, Lisa Kjentvet, Karen Knobloch, Sara Beth Lane, Orzella Matherson, Mateo Miguel Mendez, Laura Reynolds, Andrew Roitstein, Abigail Tran, Rebecca Whitney, Greg Woodbridge

This report is made possible by a generous grant from The Volgenau Foundation, along with public funds from the National Endowment for the Arts; the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council; and the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

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