The program has five orchestras composed of students from elementary level through high school,[1] with participation's based on an annual audition.
Participation is based on an audition in which the prospective student must perform an appropriate solo, orchestral excerpt, scales and arpeggios, and must sight-read.
Pieces that have been played by the Philharmonic Orchestra include Carmen Suites by Georges Bizet, Dance of the Tumblers from The Snow Maiden by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, a Merle J. Isaac arrangement of Dance Infernale, Berceuse and Finale from The Firebird by Igor Stravinsky and Finlandia by Jean Sibelius.
A few highlights of the orchestra's repertoire include Scheherazade by Rimksy-Korsakov, The Rite of Spring by Stravinsky, The Planets by Gustav Holst, Symphony No.
[1] Previous music/artistic directors have included Ralph Winkler, Ed Forner (former Assistant Conductor with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra and Professor of Music at Macalester College), Bill McGlaughlin, Clyn D. Barrus and David Tubergen.
Under Winkler and Forner's initial leadership, MYS grew from a single orchestra to three ensembles ranging from beginning students to college-level musicians.
MYS has collaborated with many noted guest artists, conductors and performing groups including Minnesota Orchestra Music Director Osmo Vänskä, Butch Thompson, Charles Lazarus, Jorja Fleezanis, Bel Canto Chorus, St. Paul City Ballet, Minnesota Boys Choir, Ignacio "Nachito" Herrera, Doc Severinsen and the T.C.
In honor of these events, each of the Minnesota Youth Symphonies' four orchestras premiered original works by Minnesotan composers.
Full orchestral pieces were commissioned from composers Stephen Paulus, Shelley Hanson and MYS alumnus Edward (Teddy) Niedermaier.
[3] In 2015, MYS was invited to take part in the opening concerts at the newly renovated Ordway Center for the Performing Arts.