Once under the umbrella of the San Jose Symphony, the San Jose Youth Symphony found itself alone, with no money or rehearsal space last year when its parent organization went out of business. Parents and an active board of directors scrambled to save the symphony. Today, the youth symphony is steadily rebuilding its foundation and recruiting new students. A new office space and website are two milestones several volunteers are proud to show off. Successful performances at Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph over the holidays were a sign to the young musicians that the youth symphony was regaining its ground.

Parents are beaming with pride over what has been accomplished in the past year, and the performers are filled with appreciation.

"People don't realize how hard it's been and what a blessing it is that we are still together," said Jeffery Shiau, the 17-year-old principal violist for the San Jose Youth Symphony. "The parents are not just saving the music—they are saving long-standing friendships."

Shiau is keenly aware of what he would be missing had passionate volunteers not stepped up to save the youth symphony. He's been a member of the symphony for nearly four years, developing friendships he otherwise would not have through long weekly rehearsals and performances throughout San Jose.

A junior at Monta Vista High School, Shiau is class president, practices martial arts, is preparing to earn his Eagle Scout badge and is taking a break this year from the track and field team. Of all his extracurricular activities the symphony may be the most significant—he speaks of the symphony as a second family and says his best friends are members of the group. The young musicians come from all over the South Bay for rehearsals and performances.

Led by Music Director and Conductor Yair Samet and four additional conductors—Timothy Beswick, Ryo Fukuda, Victoria Morton and Galen Lemmon—250 students train with the symphony all year. Students participate in a percussion ensemble, preparatory string ensemble, intermediate string ensemble, junior orchestra and senior orchestra.

The San Jose Youth Symphony, as an independent nonprofit organization, has clear goals. A newly launched website will help promote its six subscription concerts scheduled this year at the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts and Le Petit Trianon. The board of directors is working to raise $37,000 to fund a trip to Japan for a series of concerts with its senior orchestra, not to mention $250,000 in operating expenses they anticipate now that they're on their own.

Confident in the symphony's future, Dolly Johnson, the board of directors' chairwoman, is looking forward to what will be an annual family concert with the senior orchestra on March 30 at the San Jose Civic Auditorium. She realizes that education plays a critical role in understanding classical music. The family concert format allows Maestro Samet to stop the music and talk with the audience, demonstrating different pieces of the music and highlighting sections of the orchestra. The interaction with the audience and the musicians provides an interface with a man who is often described as having an "intimidating presence" onstage.

Focused on musical excellence, performance and community involvement, the symphony has been training students in classical music for more than four decades. Many graduate from high school and pursue varied careers, play in a college or community orchestras or simply turn into tomorrow's classical music audience, ensuring there will be enthusiasts to keep symphonies like this one going for years to come.

For more information about the San Jose Youth Symphony or for ticket information, visit www.sjys.org.