About Us

Hawaii Youth Symphony
HYS is Hawaii’s only statewide orchestra program for youth, and a comprehensive community resource for orchestral music in Hawaii. Each year, HYS serves approximately 650 students, ages 7-18, from nearly 100 schools on different islands – and from all skill levels.
Music makes better communities. In addition to contributing to the cultural richness of society, it is clearly associated with academic and personal characteristics that correlate with developing well-educated young people necessary to preserve and carry forth the well-being of our communities. By bringing together hundreds of youth from diverse backgrounds and schools, HYS’s strength lies not only in its reputation for unwavering musical excellence but in its ability to create common bonds around orchestral music. HYS’s commitment, however, goes beyond training young musicians. HYS gives its students the skills for lifelong learning and the foundation for becoming better citizens. By upholding its tradition of musical excellence, HYS is making a significant contribution to the future of music by developing new generations of musicians, and audiences with an appreciation for their music.
The Hawaii Youth Symphony has been incorporated since 1964 and is recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Our EIN is 99-0119771.
