League of American Orchestras Celebrates Youth Orchestra Division’s 50th Anniversary with Nationwide Commissioning Project and Community Impact Awards

New York, NY (November 5, 2025) – The League of American Orchestras has announced a series of initiatives to celebrate the 50th anniversary of its Youth Orchestra Division (YOD). Founded in 1975, the YOD seeks to promote youth orchestras as essential cultural assets, building and maintaining artistic and organizational excellence in these vital programs. A key focus is on the development of new repertoire designed specifically for youth orchestras, with the launch of a nationwide commissioning initiative, Composing Our Tomorrow: A Celebration of the League’s Youth Orchestra Division at 50. Commemorating the group’s roots in volunteer leadership, the YOD also announces the inaugural Betty Utter Community Impact Award.  

“As someone whose earliest experience of music was playing in a youth orchestra,” says Simon Woods, President and CEO of the League of American Orchestras, “I can say authentically that youth orchestras are one of the most important and inspiring facets of American orchestral life. Our Youth Orchestra Division is full of bold, passionate leaders, building on the legacy of those who came before them, and deeply committed to young people. This project is a perfect way to capture the essence of youth orchestras as we celebrate their anniversary: empowering young people to lead, to create, and to remind us that the vitality of orchestras rests in their hands.” 

The centerpiece of the celebration, Composing Our Tomorrow, empowers youth orchestras across the country to commission and premiere short, celebratory works, expanding the repertoire for youth ensembles and highlighting the next generation of creators. With the philosophy that “All music was new once,” the project also aims to connect young musicians with living composers, giving students a window into the artistic process of creating new music.  

“Some youth orchestras have been commissioning for years; for others, this will be their very first time,” adds Lindsey Nova, Executive Director of Three Rivers Young Peoples Orchestras (Pittsburgh, PA) and Chair of the Youth Orchestra Division. “Either way, the message is clear: commissioning isn’t just for the big-budget world of professional orchestras. It’s for anyone who believes that the future of music starts right here, with young people daring to create.” 

The Betty Utter Community Impact Award honors the legacy of Betty Utter, co-founder of the Fort Worth Youth Orchestra and founder of the League’s Youth Orchestra Division. In the spirit of Betty’s energy, determination, and grassroots leadership, each youth orchestra is invited to recognize their own “Betty Utter”—a local changemaker such as a dedicated parent volunteer, board member, or teacher who has made an extraordinary impact on their community. 

50th Anniversary celebrations will continue at the League’s National Conference in June 2026, where the Youth Orchestra Division and the Education and Community Engagement Constituency will collaborate on a special pre-Conference half-day meeting. The League will also spotlight member Youth Orchestras in its communications efforts during the anniversary year, elevating local programs through a national social media campaign (@orchleague). Previously unreleased archival material will be also curated and posted on the League’s website, including information about YOD’s founding and history.  

More About Composing Our Tomorrow 

• Launches for Youth Orchestra Division member orchestras on November 17, 2025 
• Orchestras commit to participation by May 1, 2026 
• A full list of participants will be announced at the League’s 2026 National Conference in Baltimore 
• Premieres will take place from 2026–2029, with highlights shared annually on League platforms and at YOD sessions at Conference 

Participating orchestras will submit scores, recordings, and program notes, which will be added to a national database of youth orchestra repertoire. Selected works will also be showcased through the League’s website and social channels.