EYSO has a national reputation for providing students with an engaging musical experience, as well as a comprehensive learning environment which promotes curiosity, imagination, critical thinking, and collaboration. With eight large ensembles and nearly 30 chamber ensembles, EYSO auditions hundreds of students each year in addition to the student musicians who currently enjoy its rigorous methods of inquiry and “expert noticing.” Under the leadership of Artistic Director Matthew Sheppard, a leader in music education, nearly 400 students from 70 communities explore a comprehensive curriculum each season - one which aims not only to help these students develop artistically and technically, but also to prepare them for a future of complex ideas, creative risk-taking, and leadership as global citizens.