The bright lights shine on the orchestra. The conductor walks onstage and the audience begins to clap. He turns, slowly lifts his baton, and the instruments shimmered as they rise into position. The baton swings downward and the air is filled with the sound of music.

The Kansas City Youth Symphony is comprised of students in grades five through twelve. Freshman Claire Nelson, sophomore Mitchell Reilly and seniors David Hu and Grant Laster are part of this group.

Nelson began playing the oboe in fifth grade. She tried out for the Youth Symphony two years ago and has been part of the Symphonette group, making first chair this year. She enjoys rehearsing with the group and is hoping to make Philharmonic next year.

Reilly has played the violin since third grade. Violin was the set instrument for third graders, and when he had the choice to change in fourth grade, he decided to stick with violin. He is in the Academy Orchestra and is first violin, second chair.

Hu began playing violin in fifth grade. He heard a middle school concert and was inspired to play. Hu joined the Youth Symphony in seventh grade and made his way up to second violin, fourth chair in the highest group.

According to youthsymphonykc.org, the Symphony was founded in 1958 and consisted of one orchestra with 80 musicians. It has grown greatly over the years to four full orchestras and over 300 musicians.

The orchestra groups today are called Symphonette, Philharmonic, Academy and Symphony in order of increasing skill level. All are full orchestras with string, woodwind, brass and percussion instruments.

In order to get into the Youth Symphony, students are required to audition. The audition process includes playing a chosen solo, scales and sight reading.

To prepare for the scales and solos, the students practice their chosen pieces repeatedly, but the sight reading is a little more difficult to prepare for.

“For sight reading, just playing helps-being exposed to different music you’ve never seen and trying to play through it,” Hu said.

The components of auditioning have been changed for the next season. Now students are only required to play given excerpts of songs along with the scales.

“I believe it is for the better,” Nelson said, “It is hard to find a solo that fits your strengths.”

The groups practice for two to three hours every Sunday. Rehearsal attendance is mandatory, and if too many are missed the student will not be able to participate. Reilly said that although he enjoys playing in the group, he is glad for the break in the summer because it is such a big commitment.

The Symphony Orchestra played in a side-by-side with the Kansas City Symphony. The youth symphony students sat between Kansas City Symphony musicians.

“It’s really awesome being able to rehearse with them, being able to talk with them,” Hu said, “Otherwise, how are you going to be able to perform with the Kansas City Symphony without being part of it?”

Students in the youth symphony play in many different places, including the Kauffman and the Folly Theatre. The group also travels to other cities and sometimes out of the country. Next year, the symphony is taking a trip to Chicago.

“My favorite part is probably playing at great auditoriums,” Reilly said. Playing at venues like the Kauffman Center, one can easily be overwhelmed. “In the beginning when you walk on, you see tons of people and can’t pick anyone out, it’s just a huge audience. Once I start playing, I just focus on the music,” Hu said.

Focusing on the important aspects of the performance is also a way to alleviate stage fright.

“I think ‘stay calm, stay in time’,” Nelson said.

The Kansas City Youth Symphony is a valuable experience and is enjoyed by the students.“It’s a great experience. I know I’ve said that a lot, but it really is,” Reilly said.