Mainly Mozart Youth Orchestra

Inspire and Instruct the Next Generation of Musicians

 Mainly Mozart Youth Orchestra (MMYO) is the only youth orchestra in California that integrates students with cognitive and physical differences into core programs.  Finding a place where they can belong – where they are joyfully included – can be transformative.  

 MMYO currently serves 300 students ages 3-18 hailing from all over San Diego County.  Our objectives are threefold:  

• To encourage developing musicians,
• To create an inclusive program where students are welcomed regardless of abilities, and
• To inspire health and well-being through the impact of music.  

 “MMYO is an incredible organization and has played an integral role in

helping our son progress instrumentally and in his love and appreciation for  music.”

MMYO provides students with solo, chamber, and orchestral performance opportunities.  Thanks to our inclusion policy, participation in the orchestra provides vital creative and social outlets for students with differences, and teaches key lessons to all participants on the importance of inclusion within their shared commitment to musical expression.  

 MMYO empowers San Diego youth of diverse backgrounds, economic levels, and abilities through music education and leadership training.

• Students are taught to master an instrument in one or more of six ensembles, from Suzuki Strings to the Advanced Orchestra.
•  Performances take place countywide with a regular presence at professional venues, retirement centers, schools, churches, and more.
• In 2024 MMYO will return to Baja California in partnership with Promotora del las Bellas Artes for a binational performance celebrating friendship and the importance of saving our oceans.  

 Outreach performances strengthen students’ accountability, sense of community, and professional etiquette. They share the health benefits of live music, simulate upcoming performances at professional venues, and foster intergenerational connection.

“Our family is so thankful to be a part of the MMYO community. The teachers and 

staff have all made a lasting impact on our entire family.”

 MMYO is part of the larger Mainly Mozart, Inc. founded in 1988 to present an annual festival celebrating the genius of Mozart and the great masters of classical music.  While some students contribute to the program through tuition fees, Mainly Mozart invests an additional $1,000 per participant, making charitable support vitally important to the success of the program.