Experience the Joy of Music with the West Valley Youth Symphony
Discover the magic of music with us! Our orchestra welcomes everyone, whether you’re looking to join us or support our talented musicians. We offer a nurturing learning environment for musical growth and community connection. Join us for concerts, events, and memorable experiences.
Our Mission
The mission of the West Valley Youth Symphony program is to offer young talented musicians an opportunity to participate with their peers in an orchestral setting. This experience provides intensive training so participants will develop greater music understanding, ability and appreciation.
There are two performing groups in the program during the school year. Cadet Strings is a training ensemble for beginning string players. The West Valley Youth Symphony is a full orchestra with strings, woodwinds. brass and percussion players. We also offer a Chamber Music Camp in June for a week of coaching with Quartet Sabaku.
Every year our ensembles perform in a variety of concerts around the West Valley. We have a fall workshop, and participate in side-by-side concerts with the West Valley Symphony.
Since there are few string music programs in the local school systems, we provide a needed service to our community.
Members of our youth orchestras and summer chamber music camp come from Avondale, Litchfield Park, Goodyear, Peoria, Glendale, Buckeye, Surprise, Tolleson and other areas of West Phoenix.
Youth Symphony
The West Valley Youth Symphony is a full orchestra made up of talented young musicians from across the region. Featuring strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion, the ensemble performs a wide range of music—from classical to contemporary—under the direction of Claire Gordon. The symphony provides a platform for middle school, high school and college age students to grow as musicians and leaders while bringing high-quality performances to the community.
Cadet Strings
The Cadet Strings is a training ensemble designed for beginning string players who are building foundational skills on violin, viola, cello, or bass. With a focus on ensemble playing, technique, and musical growth, this group offers young musicians a supportive first step into orchestral performance. Led by Trista Kruckenberg, the Cadet Strings prepares students for advancement into our full orchestra.
Meet the Conductors
Get to know the dedicated individuals who bring our music community to life.
Claire Gordon
Symphony Conductor
Claire Gordon, a native of Phoenix, graduated Summa Cum Laude from Arizona State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education in 1983. Mrs. Gordon taught strings in the Washington Elementary School District for fifteen years. Currently, she maintains a large private studio of violin, viola and piano students. Her students range from age four to adult. Mrs. Gordon’s goal is to instill a life-long love of music in her students. Many of her former students continue to play in string quartets and community orchestras after high school, and several have earned degrees in music performance and education, continuing the legacy of teaching music.
Mrs. Gordon has been the music director of the West Valley Youth Symphony since its first full season, beginning in the fall of 1997. She has served as an adjudicator for various music festivals and has conducted honor orchestras for several school districts in the Phoenix area. Mrs. Gordon had the privilege of conducting Arizona Elementary All-State Orchestra in 2001 and 2014, the 2008 Arizona Junior High All-State Orchestra and the 2014 Greater Phoenix Honor Orchestra Festival.
Mrs. Gordon plays in the West Valley Symphony, is an active church musician and free-lance violinist throughout the Phoenix area. Mrs. Gordon is a past President of the Arizona chapter of the American String Teachers’ Association and has served as the ASTA State Solo Competition chairperson.
Contact Mrs. Gordon
Phone: 602-826-9453
Send Mrs. Gordon an email
Trista Kruckenberg
Cadet Strings Conductor
Trista Kruckenberg graduated from Brigham Young University-Idaho with a Bachelor of Music in Music Education, Orchestra Emphasis, and holds a Masters of Arts in Education, Curriculum and Instruction. She began her teaching career as the District Orchestra Teacher in Idaho Falls for grades 4-12 and has held positions as Director of Orchestra and Choir at Tempe High School, Director of Strings at Rancho Santa Fe Elementary and Lanai Road Elementary in Encino, CA respectively. In addition, Mrs. Kruckenberg was the conductor of the West Valley Cadet Strings from 2007-2011 and again from 2013 to the present.
Mrs. Kruckenberg recorded the solo string tracks for a nationwide Mercedes-Benz 2012 commercial originally aired during the Academy Awards prime commercial spot. She was Principal of the Rexburg Community Orchestra, Concertmaster of the Valencia Stake Orchestra, and rounded out her classical playing by fiddling in the BYU-Idaho Bluegrass Band in addition to playing in both the Symphony and Chamber Orchestras. She currently performs throughout the valley as a free-lance violinist while maintaining her private teaching studio of violin, viola, and cello students. Mrs. Kruckenberg firmly believes music enhances the knowledge and abilities of students in a unique way unmatched by any other discipline.
Contact Mrs. Kruckenberg
Phone: 623-298-4212
Send Mrs. Kruckenberg an email
Auditions
The West Valley Youth Symphony auditions are conducted each fall. At the discretion of the conductor, auditions may also be conducted during the school year.
We support our public and private schools’ music programs, therefore, it is expected that each student who auditions for the West Valley Youth Symphony be a member in good standing of the orchestra in the school they attend, if it has one. The Symphony also welcomes homeschool youth!
Partial tuition scholarships are available, and based on financial need. For further information, contact the orchestra manager.
Requirements
Symphony
Youth Symphony Strings
- Scales, both major and melodic minor: 2 or 3 octaves, up to 4 sharps and 4 flats with accurate intonation
- Prepared Solo: Student’s choice (2 minutes) at Suzuki Book 4 or higher level
- Sight reading: Short orchestral excerpt
Youth Symphony Winds and Brass
- Scales, both major and melodic minor: 2 octaves, up to 3 sharps and 3 flats, accurate intonation
- Prepared Solo: Student’s choice (2 minutes)
- Sight reading: Short orchestral excerpt
Youth Symphony Percussion
- Show competency on snare drum, timpani, and xylophone.
Cadet Strings
- Major Scales: 2 octaves, up to 2 sharps and 2 flats with accurate intonation
- Prepared Solo: Student’s choice (2 minutes) at Suzuki Book 2 or equivalent level
- Sight reading: Short orchestral excerpt.
2025-2026 Season
Application Deadline:
Please apply by August 16 so an audition time can be scheduled.
Audition Dates:
August 25 – 27, 2025
Please apply by August 16 so auditions may be scheduled. Auditions will be held in person at St Peters Episcopal Church, 400 S. Old Litchfield Rd, Litchfield Park, AZ 85340.
Season Runs:
September 8, 2025 – May 11, 2026
Fall Workshop:
September 20, 2025
Rehearsals will be held weekly at The Church ar Litchfield Park, 300 N. Old Litchfield Rd, Litchfield Park, AZ 85340
Fees
All fees are Non Refundable
Early Audition Fee: (due with application) is $25 through June 20th, then $35 thereafter.
Membership Fee:
Youth Symphony – $425
Cadet Strings – $330
(Includes T-shirt and Fall Workshop)
Installment Payments:
Four payments of $104.00 for the Symphony and $80.00 for Cadets can be made in August, September, October and November.
Payment is by cash, check or Zelle. To use Zelle, please open your bank’s app and scan the QR code below. Please note what the payment is for.
Alternately, you can also open your bank’s app and go to Zelle, type West Valley Youth Orchestra and use the email address payments@wvyo org. enter the amount to be paid and what it is
for.
Chamber Music Summer Camp
Hosted by West Valley Youth Symphony & Quartet Sabaku
Dates: June 16–20, 2025
Location: Desert Springs Community Church
14440 W. Indian School Rd, Goodyear, AZ 85395
If you’ve been waiting for the perfect chance to join in—this is it! Whether you’re hoping to move up in the Youth Symphony or just want to grow musically, this week-long chamber music camp is a fantastic opportunity.
Open to string students ages 10–20 (younger students may attend with special permission), the camp features professional coaching by the dynamic members of Quartet Sabaku. Camp hours are 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM daily, and students will be placed in chamber groups, orchestra, and theory classes.
Camp Highlights:
Daily coaching by Quartet Sabaku
Small ensembles and full string orchestra
Theory instruction and sight-reading practice
Public final concert: Friday, June 20 at 5:00 PM
– $10 admission (children under 10 free)
Auditions – TBD
Time: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: Desert Springs Community Church
Audition Requirements:
- Major and minor scales (2–3 octaves, up to 3 sharps/flats)
- Short solo piece (approx. 2 minutes; Suzuki Book 2 level or above)
- Sight-reading excerpt
- Short music theory assessment
Tuition & Registration
Camp Fee: TBD
Early Bird Rate: TBD if paid in full by TBD
Registration Deadline: Extended to TBD
(No refunds after June 1. Late registration may be accepted based on availability.) Scholarships: A limited number of partial scholarships are available based on financial need or merit.
How to Register:
Fill out the online Camp Application Form
Submit payment via cash, check, or Zelle
To pay with Zelle, scan the QR code below with your banking app, or send payment to [email protected] and note “Chamber Music Camp” in the memo.
Students should bring music stand, pencil, tuner/metronome, and sack lunch daily
For more information, please contact the Symphony Manager. Don’t miss this exciting chance to grow as a musician, meet new friends, and work with inspiring professionals!