The California Youth Symphony was founded in 1952. Over the years we have established an international reputation for the quality of our programs. In 1963 we became the first American youth orchestra ever to tour overseas when we accepted an invitation to visit Japan. Over the following years sixteen additional tours to all parts of the world have earned us universal praise. However, our greatest accomplishments and our most intense focus has always been here in the San Francisco Peninsula/South Bay area. The San Mateo County Times described us as "one of the finest of the world’s youth symphonies."

The California Youth Symphony has consistently expanded its programs over the last twenty years in order to meet the growing need for youth music programs. We now have eight programs in Palo Alto and Los Altos that offer musical instruction and performance opportunities on all symphonic instruments for young musicians of beginning through advanced levels. Enrollment exceeds 400.