Our Mission

The Tulsa Youth Symphony is a 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1963 with a mission to provide advanced musical training and exceptional performance opportunities to our community’s future leaders. Our goal is to improve problem-solving skills, stimulate creativity, expand the imagination, and instill a love and passion for music thereby developing an ability to recognize beauty and formulate an appreciation for the arts.


Our Vision

TYS’ vision is to inspire a passion for excellence and foster unity through music.


The great transporting medium, music meets a basic human need. It can take us out of ourselves or it can push us deeper into ourselves, whatever is required at any given moment. Music can meet us on an emotional or an intellectual level. It takes us to exotic places and it stimulates our imagination. It can help us relive our past, evaluate our current state, or imagine our future. It can abate emotions or intensify them.
Music is there for us, for whatever we need.
— Ron Wheeler, Conductor Emeritus

Patti Johnson Wilson Foundation


Thank you, Tulsa!

Thank you, Tulsa!

We are deeply grateful for being chosen as the 2023 TulsaKids Family Favorite Music Program award recipient in the Enrichment category. This recognition validates our commitment to inspiring and nurturing young musicians in Tulsa. Thank you for voting for us and we promise to continue providing exceptional music education for years to come.