The Albuquerque Youth Symphony Program (AYSP) believes all children should have access to music education, which is why no student is excluded due to financial concerns. They seek to instill a lifelong passion for music in motivated young people in the Albuquerque area through the pursuit of excellence in orchestral music performance. Every week 550 students come together at AYSP. All students participate in annual competitive auditions for their place in AYSP and are accepted into one of 8 ensembles for woodwinds, brass, percussion, harp and strings.

All students participate in weekly rehearsals (August through April) at the AYSP Facility with a professional conductor in preparation for performances. AYSP ensembles perform three to five times per season, with a total of 40-50 performances annually for the entire program.

AYSP believes that every student deserves equal access to the experiences and benefits of music education regardless of economic status and provides financial aid for families in need to cover up to 90% of the cost of participation.

Neurological research shows that playing a musical instrument engages almost every area of the brain at once. It combines the linguistic and mathematical precision in the left hemisphere with the novel and creative content in the right hemisphere. Building neurological bridges between the hemispheres allows musicians to solve problems more creatively in both academic and social settings. Music education is critical for the success of our students and our community - it not only nurtures the spirit, but also impacts key parts of the brain and helps students develop critical life skills that allow them to become dedicated and creative employees in the future!

We love the passion, drive and dedication Albuquerque Youth Symphony Program has to the youth of Albuquerque. Check out more about their programs here. For the next two weeks, $5 of every necklace sold that is not previously linked with an organization goes back to them! Help support their desire to educate young people in the art of music.