The holidays are upon us!  We know this means your time is precious and appeals are aplenty from many deserving organizations. So why choose to support the American Youth Symphony? Quite simply, there are four reasons to make your tax-deductible gift, and as much as we love elaborating on AYS, we know you’d rather hear directly from those your gift would benefit: 
 
Inspire the future of classical music
“A group like AYS has the power to keep music alive.”
 - Audience member, September 27, 2015
 
“Thank you AYS for coming [to teach us]. The music was beautiful and you all inspired me to want to go to college and study music. You make me want to play music for the rest of my life!”
 -  Student, Markham Middle School in Watts
 
Give free classical performances to those who otherwise cannot afford them
“I’m post-college, loan-filled, and poor so getting to have such an amazing night out with my husband was such a blessing. What you do is amazing! Thank you so much!”
-  Audience member, September 27, 2015
 
Support the concert artists of tomorrow
“The American Youth Symphony and all that are involved with the organization absolutely without a doubt started me on my journey to becoming a working professional musician.”
 -  Carrie Rexroat (AYS Horn 2013-15)
 
“I can honestly say that being in AYS was the single most important factor in getting my career started.”
 -  Allen Fogle (AYS Principal Horn 2008-14)
 
Build cultural bridges in Los Angeles
“This is my daughter’s first concert. Mine too. She’s only in kindergarten, but I guess I’ve already given her a better life than I started out with.”
 - Parent, Transfiguration Elementary School in South Los Angeles
 
Support our vision of classical music as alive, vibrant, and relevant to all audiences. With contributors like you, we do have the power to keep music alive! 

• Make a Gift of Any Amount â€¢
• Make a One-Time Membership Gift â€¢
• Make a Monthly Membership Gift â€¢

Esa-Pekka Salonen Joins
AYS Advisory Council

We are thrilled to announce that world-renowned Conductor and Composer
Esa-Pekka Salonen has joined the newly established AYS Advisory Council.

Salonen is currently the Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor for London’s Philharmonia Orchestra and the Conductor Laureate for the Los Angeles Philharmonic, where he was Music Director from 1992 until 2009.

We are proud and honored that he has joined the Advisory Council, taking a formal role in helping to guide and shape the future of the American Youth Symphony.

Other Council members include:

Sarah Chang
Concert violinist

Robert Cutietta
Dean, University of Southern California Thornton School of Music

Sarah Coade Mandell
Philanthropist; Managing Partner, QRMS, LLC;
Studio and Orchestral Double Bassist

Zubin Mehta
Conductor

Deborah Rutter
President, John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

Alan Silvestri
Composer and Conductor

Chad Smith
Chief Operating Officer, Los Angeles Philharmonic

Jean-Yves Thibaudet
Concert pianist

Edward Yim
Vice President of Artistic Planning, New York Philharmonic