Albuquerque Youth Symphony
The Albuquerque Youth Symphony provides students with a high-quality music education, instills an emotional connection with and lifelong passion for music, fosters a diverse community of musicians, and offers outstanding symphonic performance opportunities for students to share their musical gifts with the community.
Sayra Siverson director
Sayra Siverson is a nationally known conductor and music educator who has spent more than 25 years dedicated to the pursuit of her craft and sharing the joy of musical excellence with young musicians. Ms. Siverson has served as guest conductor, adjudicator, and clinician for many local and national music festivals and camps, including Northern Arizona University’s Curry Summer Music Festival, Brevard Music Center, ISAS Arts Festival, Grand Opera Theater, Minnesota SEC Honor Orchestra, Albuquerque Philharmonic, and multiple All-State orchestras throughout the United States.
Former conductor of the Albuquerque Youth Symphony Program’s Youth Orchestra, Junior Orchestra, and Junior Band, Ms. Siverson has been conducting with AYSP since 1998 and currently serves as Artistic Director and conductor of the Youth Symphony. She actively promotes the education and performance of new music by successfully partnering with living composers on commissions and performances of new works, including composers such as Jeremy Hegg, Tim Janis, Mark O’Connor, Miho Sasaki, Michael Schelle, and Dana Wilson. Additionally, Ms. Siverson taught public and private school music for 16 successful years.
Ms. Siverson’s youth orchestras have performed at events in concert halls across the United States, including the New Mexico All-State Music Festival, the American String Teachers Association national conference, and the League of American Orchestras “Meet the Composer” program. An advocate of volunteering and collaborating with local organizations, her students have performed alongside the New Mexico Philharmonic, New Mexico Symphonic Chorus, Opera Southwest, and with Hey Mozart! New Mexico. Recently, Augustana University (SD) honored her with the Horizon Award that recognizes alumni who have demonstrated outstanding vocational achievement and have provided faithful service to their community.
