The AYS Program is about creating, teaching, learning and experiencing through performance, music, and music education. Now celebrating our 54th season, the AYS Program, one of the oldest and largest orchestral training programs in the United States, provides orchestral music instruction to over 400 students annually who attend public, private, parochial and home schools in the Albuquerque area. Over 600 hopeful young musicians audition annually for our seven ensembles: the Junior Strings for grades 3 – 5, the Prelude Strings, Junior Youth Band, Junior Orchestra and Junior Symphony for grades 6 - 8; and the Youth Orchestra and the Youth Symphony for grades 9 - 12. Alumni from the AYS Program are members of the major orchestras throughout the country, including the Cleveland, Philadelphia, Indianapolis, Minnesota and the Metropolitan Opera Orchestras. One-quarter of the NMSO is made up of Albuquerque Youth Symphony alumni, and many more serve as music professionals and teachers in NM and around the country. The advanced study of music opens many doors of opportunity for the young student – they develop leadership, critical thinking, problem solving, collaborative learning and teamwork skills. Some of our graduates will be attending the top music conservatories in the country, while others will attend universities and study in a variety of fields, including law, medicine, education, engineering and politics, such as Secretary of Home, Janet Napolitano (1975).