Welcome to the inaugural season of the Emory Youth Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Georgia Ekonomou. EYCO provides an advanced orchestral experience for talented young musicians selected through a competitive audition process. The orchestra is open to rising 8th through 12th grade string, wind, and percussion musicians. The EYCO program focuses on full orchestral and advanced string orchestra literature. Sectional coachings with Atlanta’s outstanding professional musicians will be held throughout the year. EYCO and EYSO perform together on shared concerts during the 2025-2026 Season.
EYCO students will also share the many opportunities offered to EYSO. These include mock audition seminars with guest panelists, college application counseling, and regular guest coachings (comprising both sectional & large ensemble).
In 2014, the orchestra began as the Emory Junior Chamber Orchestra (EJCO) with regular tour cycles including a performance at New York’s Lincoln Center attended by major donors and supporters of the program, Donna & Marvin Schwartz and Ted Turner. In 2017, EYSO and EJCO travelled to Chicago to perform at Northwestern University and participate in masterclasses with distinguished faculty including members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and in 2019, EYSO and EJCO toured to Nashville at Belmont University.
PARTICIPATION FEE & SCHOOL PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENT
The EYCO participation fee for 2025-2026 is $825. Members are expected to enroll in their school’s instrumental ensemble music program for the entire school year. Home schooled students or students attending a school where there is no ensemble program must be recommended to EYSO by a private teacher or school official.
REHEARSALS
Rehearsals are held throughout the school year on Thursday evenings from 7:00pm-9:00pm in the Tharp Rehearsal Hall of the Schwartz Center for Performing Arts at Emory University. Rehearsals begin immediately after the August audition period.
