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Five casually-dressed male and female teenagers, standing with their instruments (violins, french horn, tambourine and flute)

Our Students

CYSO students come from schools and communities all across the Chicagoland area, united in their love of music and their passion for exploring the limits of what is possible. Whether they are seasoned performers or just beginning to explore their instrument, CYSO students are dedicated to growth and to supporting one another in a team environment. CYSO is committed to investing in young musicians so they can reach their full potential musically, personally, and academically.

“CYSO gave me confidence and a learning environment where every year I was challenged to grow in ways I never thought would be possible. I look back on my CYSO experience and am so grateful for the skills I gained and the community that supported me.”

Oliver Talukder, CYSO Class of 2020

Meet the Musicians

CYSO students come from more than 146 different zip codes across 104 towns and cities and 4 states.

Group of young steelpan musicians casually dressed in T-shirts, all smiling and posing for a picture
Pie chart of grade level: 43% 10th-12 grade, 3% 1st-3rd grade, 28% 4th-6th grade, 25% 7th-9th grade

Grade Level

Pie chart of race/ethnicity: 29% Latinx, 33% Asian, 6% African-American/Black, 2% Native American/Other, 29% White

Race/Ethnicity

Pie chart of gender: 46% male, 52% female, 1.2% non-binary or other group

Gender

100%

of CYSO students graduate high school, going on to college, attending some of the top conservatories, colleges, universities in the world
20+

number of languages spoken in the homes of CYSO students
50%

of CYSO students volunteer regularly, giving approximately 1,000 hours in service each month

Student Spotlights

Read More Student Spotlights

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