51st Season Concerts
Oakland Youth Orchestras will present 3 concerts this season, showcasing nearly 350 students in 4 orchestras. Concerts for the season are scheduled as follows:
- November 20th, 2025, 6:30 at Bloomfield Hills High School
- February 19th, 2026, 6:30 at Bloomfield Hills High School
- April 30, 2026, 6:30, Bloomfield Hills High School
All concerts are open to the general public. Tickets are available for purchase at the door.
$15 Adults, $5 Students
Winter Concert
February 19, 2026, 6:30 PM
Our winter concert will offer new styles and selections from each of our four orchestras, demonstrating the growth of each ensemble. From the Studio String Orchestra, we will hear works from Brian Balmages, Todd Parrish, and an arrangement of “My Funny Valentine” for strings. The String Orchestra will bring in the energy of legendary composer John Williams, who is most known for his movie scores. Works by Verdi, Dvorak, and the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto, performed by our 2025 Philharmonia Orchestra Concerto Competition winner, Aiden Yang, will feature the Philharmonia Orchestra. Presenting all French composers will be the Symphony Orchestra, with Chabrier’s Fete Polonaise, selections from Delibes’ Coppelia ballet, and the Saint-Saens Violin Concerto, performed by our 2025 Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition winner, Kyra Shogren.
Kyra Shogren is a freshman at Syracuse University, majoring in Linguistics and in TV, Film, and Radio Production. Kyra began playing violin at age five and joined OYO in second grade, remaining a dedicated member for eleven years. As a first-place winner in both the Studio Strings (2015) and Symphony (2023) OYO Solo and Concerto Competitions, Kyra has performed previously as a soloist for OYO audiences, most memorably playing the Wieniawski Violin Concerto No. 2 accompanied by the Symphony Orchestra. Kyra currently performs professionally with the Rochester Symphony Orchestra and other ensembles in Metro Detroit.
Outside of music, Kyra Shogren is involved with Syracuse University’s TV comedy show, Live From Studio B, and enjoys video games, reading, and spending time with friends.
Aiden is a seventh-grade student at Avondale GATE Magnet School. He began playing the violin in first grade after receiving his first violin as a birthday gift from his grandparents. Over the past seven years, he has developed his musical skills and technique under the guidance of Haewon Oh.
He joined the Oakland Youth Orchestra (OYO) Studio Strings in second grade and has remained an active and dedicated member of the program. Through years of study and practice, he has earned first-place honors in three OYO solo competitions (2025 Philharmonia, 2024 String, and 2022 Studio Strings). Aiden is also a prize winner in the 2025 MMTA Concerto Competition and has been selected for the 2026 MSBOA All-State Orchestra.
In addition to his musical studies, Aiden has an interest in STEM. He enjoys exploring robotics and artificial intelligence and continues to pursue a balance between technology and the artistry of the violin.
Oakland Youth Orchestras (OYO) presents its Winter Concert on Thursday, February 19, 2026, at 6:30pm at Bloomfield Hills High School.
All concerts are open to the general public. Tickets are available for purchase at the door.
$15 Adults, $5 Students
View the Concert program here.
Past Performances
Chamber Ensembles Concert – February 1, 2:30pm
The Oakland Youth Orchestras hosts a Chamber Ensembles program for students interested in a small group experience. Students work together as trios and quartets in exploration of a whole different music-making opportunity. Through weekly rehearsals and coaching with OYO conductors and area music teachers, students are exposed to a whole new genre of music where they learn to make group decisions and to perform without a conductor.
This year’s performance features six ensembles and will take place on Sunday, February 1, 2026, at 2:30pm at the University Presbyterian Church, located at 1385 S. Adams Rd., Rochester Hills, MI 48309.
The concert is open to the public and is free of charge.
Fall Concert
November 20, 2025, 6:30 PM
Come join us for the opening concert of the 51st season! Featuring each of the four orchestras of OYO – Studio String, String, Philharmonia, and Symphony – we will hear works of Tchaikovsky, de Falla, Bach, Schwartz, and more as each group showcases the dedicated efforts of this year’s students and conductors.
The concert will also present performances by the Studio String and String Orchestra winners of our 2025 Solo & Concerto Competition, Marcus Vingarzan (violin) and Daniel Chou (violin).
Marcus Vingarzan is a 7th-grade student at Cranbrook Boys Middle School who began playing the violin at the age of seven. His musical journey started at home, where his father was his first teacher. For the past six years, Marcus has studied under the guidance of Waileng Cheang. This year marks his fourth season with the Oakland Youth Orchestra.
In addition to the violin, Marcus has been playing the piano since the age of five. Outside of music, he enjoys playing tennis, practicing martial arts, and spending time with family and friends playing chess.
Daniel Chou, a freshman at Troy High School, began playing violin in fifth grade, studying under Emily Paye. Since eighth grade, he has studied under Amy Humphreys-Whalen. This is his third year attending OYO since starting in 2023. He played in Studio String Orchestra in seventh grade, String Orchestra in eighth grade, and is currently a member of the Philharmonia Orchestra. Besides playing violin, he also enjoys drawing and spending time with his two cats.
Oakland Youth Orchestras (OYO) presents its Fall Concert on Thursday, November 20, 2025, at 6:30pm at Bloomfield Hills High School.
All concerts are open to the general public. Tickets are available for purchase at the door.
$15 Adults, $5 Students
View the Concert program here.
Spring Concert
Thursday, May 1st, 2025, at 6:30pm
We wrap up our 50th season with a celebratory final concert. Join us in hearing each of OYO’s 4 orchestras in performance.
As a part of our 50th year celebration, we commissioned a piece from Michigan composer, Catherine McMichael. The piece, entitled Elemental Powers 2025, includes a movement for each of our 4 orchestras, inspired by an element on the periodic table (Studio String – Krypton, String – Neon, Philharmonia – Cobalt, Symphony – Oxygen). In addition to composing a movement for each orchestra, she composed a bonus movement, Arsenic, for string ensemble. This movement will be performed by our conductors alongside OYO alumni string players.
The program will include works by American composers, featuring Aaron Copland’s famous “Rodeo” and Leonard Bernstein’s Overture to Candide. The color blue is highlighted with selections from George Gershwin, including themes from Rhapsody in Blue, and Johann Strauss’ Blue Danube Waltz. Other works will feature female composers, including Soon Hee Newbold’s The Odyssey, Shirl Jae Atwell’s Kinetic, and Kathryn Griesinger’s Legends of Glory.
Oakland Youth Orchestras (OYO) presents its Spring Concert on Thursday, May 1st, 2025, at 6:30pm at the Seligman Performing Arts Center. *
All concerts are open to the general public. Tickets are available for purchase at the door.
$15 Adults, $5 Students
View the Concert program here.
Winter Concert
Thursday, January 30th, 2025, at 6:30pm
We invite you to continue celebrating OYO’s 50th anniversary at our second concert of the season!
Each of OYO’s 4 orchestras will showcase the work they have done with the students over several weeks of rehearsals. They will perform works by Tchaikovsky, Mozart, Gliere, Shostakovich, and more.
The Philharmonia and Symphony Orchestras will feature performances by 2024 Solo & Concerto Competition winners Isabelle Bonten (Symphony) and Chloe Kim (Philharmonia). Isabelle will be performing the first movement of the Violin Concerto in D Minor, by Jean Sibelius and Chloe will perform the first movement of the Violin Concerto No. 3 in G Minor by Friedrich Seitz.
Chloe is an 8th grader at Smith Middle School and has been playing the violin since 4th grade. Her teacher, Eugenia Song, has been a big influence on her musical growth. Over the past few years, Chloe has had the honor of being selected for the MSBOA All-State ensemble in both 7th and 8th grade, which has been a huge motivator for her to keep pushing herself and improving. Music has become a big part of her life, and she’s excited to see where it takes her next.
Isabelle Bonten, a senior at Stoney Creek High School, began playing violin at the age of three. Isabelle started her musical journey at home with her mother as her first teacher. After progressing through the Suzuki Violin repertoire, she began studying with her current teacher, Bill Milicevic, in middle school. At the age of 8 Isabelle began playing in OYO’s Studio Strings Orchestra and has continued through all four orchestras, currently serving as Co-Concertmaster of Symphony for the second year. Following her graduation, Isabelle plans to pursue a double major in Violin Performance and Music Education, with a minor in math. Aside from her love of music and intellectual pursuits, Isabelle enjoys spending time with family, her dog, horseback riding and nature.
Oakland Youth Orchestras (OYO) presents its Winter Concert on Thursday, January 30th, 2025, at 6:30pm at the Oxford Performing Arts Center. *
All concerts are open to the general public. Tickets are available for purchase at the door.
$15 Adults, $5 Students
View the Concert program here.
Fall Concert
Thursday, November 21st, 2024, at 6:30pm
Join us for our first concert of the season as we celebrate our 50th Anniversary, recognizing past conductors, administrators, board members, and partners of OYO.
Each of OYO’s 4 orchestras will showcase the work they have done with the students over several weeks of rehearsals. From Brahms and Rossini to Piazzola, Balmages to Giacchino/Longfield’s Spiderman: No Way Home, there is a variety of selections for every interest.
The Studio String and String Orchestras will feature performances by 2024 Solo & Concerto Competition winners Isabelle Nowlin and Aiden Yang.
Aiden Yang, a sixth grader at Avondale Gate Magnet School, began his violin journey in the first grade. For the past five years, he has been studying under the guidance of Haewon Oh. This year marks his fifth year with the Oakland Youth Orchestra, where he started in the Studio String Orchestra in 2020. After two years in the String Orchestra, Aiden has now advanced to the Philharmonia. In 2021, he also earned first place in the Studio String Orchestra solo competition. Besides playing the violin, Aiden enjoys playing the piano, reading books, practicing archery, and spending time with friends and family.
Isabelle Nowlin, 10, is a fifth grader at Bemis Elementary School in Troy. She has been playing the violin since she was six years old. Her music teachers include Emily Paye and her parents. Isabelle has attended Interlochen Arts Camp and Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp and is currently in her third year at OYO. She also plays the piano and flute, and enjoys ice skating.
Oakland Youth Orchestras (OYO) presents its Fall Concert on Thursday, November 21st, 2024, at 6:30pm at the Oxford Performing Arts Center. *
All concerts are open to the general public. Tickets are available for purchase at the door.
View the Concert program here.
49th Season Concerts
Spring Concert
Thursday, April 25th, 2024 at 6:30pm
Oakland Youth Orchestras (OYO) presents its Spring Concert on Thursday, April 25th, 2024, at 6:30pm at the Oxford Performing Arts Center. *
We welcome you to join us for our final concert of the season! OYO’s four orchestras will be performing works by Edvard Grieg, John Williams, Leonard Bernstein, Danny Elfman, and more.
Selections include: Wonka’s Welcome Song by Danny Elfman; arr. Bob Cerulli, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End by Hans Zimmer; arr. Paul Lavender and Robert Longfield, West Side Story by Leonard Bernstein, Symphony No. 25, 1st movement, by W.A. Mozart, arr. by Thomas LaJoie, and more.
Also at this concert, OYO will be celebrating 35 high school seniors at their last performance. The featured seniors have performed with the Orchestras ranging from one to twelve years. We wish the students all the best on their future musical journeys.
View the Concert program 
Winter Concert
Wednesday, February 7th, 2024 at 6:30pm
Oakland Youth Orchestras (OYO) presents its Winter Concert on Wednesday, February 7th, 2024, at 6:30pm at the Oxford Performing Arts Center. *
The concert will begin with the Studio String orchestra presenting snow-themed selections, followed by the String orchestra with a work full of challenging rhythms. The Philharmonia and Symphony orchestras will feature performances by 2023 Concerto Competition winners Kyra Shogren (Symphony) and David Collier (Philharmonia).
2024 Competition Winners
Kyra Shogren is a 16-year-old junior at Stoney Creek High School who started playing violin at the age of five and currently studies with Bill Milicevic. This year marks Kyra’s tenth year in OYO having been a member since age 7. Kyra previously won 1st place the Studio Strings Solo and Concerto Competition and placed several other times throughout the four orchestras. A selected participant in the MSBOA All-State Orchestra and the Oakland University Honors Orchestra, Kyra has also played with local professional symphonies. As a Grand Prix winner of the Concert Festival International Competition, Kyra performed at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall.
Kyra is also involved in theatre, participating in Anastasia, Les Miserables, and Mary Poppins through the schools. In addition to music, Kyra enjoys spending time with friends, writing and reading, and playing video games
David Collier
David Collier began playing the violin at five years of age and is currently in the studio of Ned Djordejevic. He has previously studied under Dylana Jenson and Nyssa Rabinowitz. In addition to playing in OYO, he plays hymns in string ensembles with his three brothers weekly in church. Academically, he is a 14-year old home-school student in the 9th grade. Outside of music he has many hobbies including powerlifting, snowboarding, fishing, and hanging out with family.
View the Concert program
* The Oxford Performing Arts Auditorium provides accommodations for disabled patrons. For additional information please speak to an OYO representative at the Box Office.