Since 1960, the DC Youth Orchestra Program (DCYOP) has fostered the musical development and transformed the lives of over 50,000 youth. As a learning organization, DCYOP continually evaluates our students’ progress and the short and long-term impact of our programs on their lives and communities. We also continually evaluate our impact on the student, family and community level through jury evaluations, pre and post-test surveys, and data collected through our school partnerships.




Our impact

Our programs
The DC Youth Orchestra Program offers group lessons and ensemble training on all orchestral instruments for students ages 4 ½ to 18. All of our ensemble programs and beginner instrument group lessons take places on Saturdays at Takoma Elementary School throughout the school year.

Nurturing Citizen-Musicians
At DCYOP, we define “excellence” differently. Teachers and staff are focused on helping students succeed as musicians and in life. Some of our students become virtuosos and many will find careers in music, but that is not the only goal.

Teachers work with students on technique, developing an emotional vocabulary for music and expressing themselves through music, and developing confidence and leadership, which extends well beyond music. We consistently see and hear from students and their parents/guardians about the impact of DCYOP on their lives.
In May 2022, 100% of students achieved satisfactory musical progress as measured by jury evaluations, and 41% advanced to the next level in our curriculum.
Our teaching artists are top-tier musicians who are committed to building students’ self-esteem and helping them develop invaluable life skills, including self-discipline, teamwork, and persistence.