The El Paso Symphony Youth Orchestras (EPSYOs) was founded in the fall of 2005 by then Music Director, Benjamin Loeb, to serve the talented young musicians of the Greater El Paso region. The EPSYOs was, and continues to be, the largest education program of the El Paso Symphony, and serves more than 200 students from across the region during the school year.  

The EPSYOs has received national recognition in the form of three grants from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) in 2007, 2009, and 2010, and also receives state and local support from the Texas Commission on the Arts and the City of El Paso Museums and Cultural Affairs Department. In 2010, the EPSYOs was featured in an ad in People Magazine after winning a $10,000 grant from Clorox through a social media voting contest through Facebook.

In the fall of 2009, Andres Moran became the EPSYOs’ second Music Director. 

The Mission of the EPSYOs

The mission of the El Paso Symphony Youth Orchestras (EPSYOs) is to provide a challenging yet supportive environment where young musicians in the Greater El Paso Region can advance their musical studies and achieve the highest level of artistic and personal growth regardless of financial need. Through advanced training, performance opportunities, mentorships, and a unique relationship with the El Paso Symphony, the EPSYOs is committed to helping students develop key life skills and memorable experiences.