Registration for the 2026-27 season is now open.
Cadenza brings string 4th- and 5th-grade musicians from different schools together every week for fun rehearsals, learning sessions, exciting guest speakers, and performances for the public throughout the year!
SYSO supports pathways for musicians that enable them to explore their passions from elementary school through high school and beyond. Cadenza is one of those pathways—it brings musicians from different schools together around music to build new friendships, and supports those musicians as they enter middle school musical studies. Cadenza works in tandem with public school music programs in Southeast Seattle to make this important opportunity possible.
Eligibility
Cadenza is open to all 4th- and 5th-grade students in Southeast Seattle who play a string instrument (violin, viola, cello, or double bass).
Rehearsal Information
Rehearsals will take place on Wednesdays from 3-4:15 PM.
Rainier Beach High School
8815 Seward Park Ave S
Seattle, WA 98118
Register
Dates & Timeline
- June 10 – Registration opens 10 am PT
- October 14 – First day of rehearsal
Performances
Performance information coming soon!
Pay-What-You-Can Tuition
Cadenza was specifically designed to bring an accessible opportunity for music education into the Southeast Seattle community. To help grow and sustain this program while also remaining committed to removing financial barriers to participation, SYSO has implemented a pay-what-you-can model for tuition for Cadenza, including low- to no-cost options.
Families are encouraged to choose the tuition percentage they are comfortably able to pay; no income verification or tuition assistance application is required.
Pay-What-You-Can Tuition Levels
- $475 (100%)
- $356.25 (75%)
- $237.50 (50%)
- $118.75 (25%)
- $0 (0%)
As the majority of families we serve prefer to split up the year’s costs into two installments, your selected level will be invoiced in two payments on the following dates:
- October 24, 2025
- February 20, 2026
Acceptance into Cadenza is not reliant on the amount you pay. Cadenza is open to all, and registration is accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.
By opting to pay tuition, you are investing in the community and Cadenza’s future, helping SYSO to sustain and grow this important program. Tuition payments from our families, alongside grants and other fundraising efforts, help to cover the cost of operating Cadenza, including staffing, coaching, music, printing, and other necessary expenses that allow this program to be successful in serving our students.
Founded in 1942, Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra is the largest youth orchestra training program in the United States.
