Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra

The passion of youth.
The joy of music-making.

Masterclass: Violist Katie Kadarauch

Sunday, May 5, 2024 @ 2:30 PM
Cubberley Theater |
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Senior PACO Concert

Saturday, May 18, 2024 @ 7:30 PM
Cubberley Theater |
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Consider Making a Donation to the PACO Annual Fund

Student tuition only covers a small portion of our programming costs. It is our goal to offer excellent teaching staff for all students, individualized chamber music instruction, concerts, guest artists, guest clinicians, masterclasses and many new programs under new Music Director Scott Krijnen. Your gift of support helps fund our PACO mission of cultivating the highest artistic value, instilling a life-long appreciation for chamber music in young people and embracing the importance of human relationships!

Meet Our New Music Director!

PACO is pleased to announce the appointment of Scott Krijnen as its new Music Director beginning with the 2023-24 season – only the third in the organization’s 57 year history. Scott extends PACO’s tradition of excellence in the world of music performance, conducting and music education, all while humbly walking the talk and inspiring others to truly live the tenets of PACO’s motto, “Plays Well with Others.” Scott began his association with PACO 18 years ago as a coach at PACO Camp and has been involved and dedicated to PACO every year since.

For Scott, “Plays Well with Others is not just a slogan for this organization, it’s a vision. My vision is to honor the established practices that make PACO incredible while continuing to seek what’s possible in the realm of engaging others, whether in our public spaces, connecting with students and educators around the world or working with businesses to see the value of the four words, 'plays well with others.' We can all listen more effectively, speak with more kindness, support with more empathy and we can all accept that we know what we know, but we don’t know what we don’t know. My vision includes the mission to find out what we don’t know and then, to learn and to grow."

Scott follows in the footsteps of Ben Simon (2002-2023) and PACO’s founder, William Whitson (1966-2001).

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Hire a Chamber Ensemble

PACO’s most experienced ensembles are available to perform at weddings, parties, graduations, and wherever else beautiful music is needed. Each group is meticulously coached by our staff, and will enliven any gathering. 

Learn more

 

The Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra is an award-winning youth orchestra for string musicians of high-school age and younger.

The emphasis on chamber music uniquely sets PACO apart from other youth orchestras in the Bay Area and the nation and lies at the core of our educational success.

 
Youth orchestra violins on stage
 

“This amazing group of musicians is one of the finest and most talented I have heard.”

- Itzhak Perlman