Registration for the 2026-27 season is now open.
**New for 2026-27** MY Southeast is introducing a Wind Ensemble!
Music Youth Southeast (MY Southeast) is an extracurricular orchestral ensemble Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra co-created with the South Seattle community. MY Southeast contributes to the vibrant arts culture in the Rainier Valley by celebrating the gift of music and performance with the community. MY Southeast musicians will perform a wide range of musical styles, ranging from Beethoven to Pharrell Williams! Other music may include collaborations with other performing arts ensembles (dance, voice, etc.)
MY Southeast was created in partnership with Consejo Counseling and Referral Service, Rainier Valley Creative District, and El Centro de la Raza.
In MY Southeast, we will use our musical gifts and knowledge to give back to our Southeast Seattle community.
- Grow your skills and confidence on your instrument
- Learn and explore music from pop to classical and everything in between
- Find your voice in music through reflection, community service, composition, and improvisation
- Opportunities to work with guests from diverse musical and artistic backgrounds.
Rehearsal Information
Wind Ensemble
Wednesdays, 5–6:30 pm
String Ensemble
Middle School Strings Session: Wednesdays, 5–6:30 pm
High School Strings Session: 5–7 pm
Optional Elective
Wednesdays, 4–4:50 pm
These elective sessions will cover different topics throughout the year, ranging from chamber groups to conducting. More information will be shared at the beginning of rehearsals in September.
REHEARSAL LOCATION
Rainier Beach High School
8815 Seward Park Ave S
Seattle, WA 98118
MY Southeast Vision
We envision a community ensemble where music is a tool to inspire social change, social-emotional growth, and community engagement to support students of the vibrant Southeast community of Seattle. We believe:
- Community partnerships and community engagement are essential for student growth and development. Each student’s needs will be met holistically, through and beyond music.
- MY Southeast is an intersection of three communities: music, regional, and school. We will foster a cycle of giving back to the community through music and service.
- Family engagement is integral to the success of this program. Families are the heart of the community and their hopes and vision for their students will drive our commitment.
- Access to high-quality music education is a right, not a privilege. Talent is equally distributed but opportunity is not. MY Southeast is committed to help address this inequity.
- Every student will see themselves as leaders in this program, their school, and their community.
- In challenging the inherent legacy of white privilege in orchestral music and cultural norms, we will challenge these norms and create a space where all students feel welcomed and thrive.
Register
Dates & Timeline
- June 10 – Registration opens 10 am PT
- September 23 – First day of term 1 rehearsal
Performances
Performance dates for the 2026-27 season coming soon!
Eligibility
STRING ENSEMBLE
String ensemble includes the following instruments: violin, viola, cello, and bass
The string ensemble rehearses in two sessions: middle school and high school. This allows us to reach even more young musicians and provide tailored coaching for each group.
String Ensemble Requirements:
- Middle School Session: String musicians, grades 6-8, with a minimum of 1 year of experience on their instrument. No audition required.
- High School Session: String musicians, grades 9-12, with a minimum of 1 year of experience on their instrument. No audition required.
A key highlight of MY Southeast is the collaboration between our younger and older students. While the middle and high school sessions will primarily rehearse separately, we foster connections throughout the year. From performing as a full ensemble to mentoring and coaching younger students by our high schoolers, we have plenty of opportunities to bring everyone together and create a supportive, dynamic musical community!
WIND ENSEMBLE
Wind ensemble includes the following instruments: flute, oboe, clarinet, bass clarinet, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, bassoon, French horn, trumpet, trombone, euphonium, tuba, and percussion
Wind Ensemble Requirements:
Woodwind and brass musicians, grades 7-12, with a minimum of 3 years of experience on their instruments. No audition required.
Percussion musicians, grades 7-12, with a minimum of 2 years of experience on their instrument. No audition required.
Pay-What-You-Can Tuition
MY Southeast 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 MY Southeast, 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 process required.
Pay-What-You-Can Tuition Levels
- $950 (100%)
- $712.50 (75%)
- $475 (50%)
- $237.50 (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 MY Southeast is not reliant on the amount you pay. MY Southeast 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 MY Southeast’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 MY Southeast, including staffing, coaching, music, printing, and other necessary expenses that allow this program to be successful in serving our students.
Thank you to our generous sponsors of MY Southeast.
Founded in 1942, Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra is the largest youth orchestra training program in the United States.
