Maryland Classic Youth Orchestras

Maryland Classical Youth Orchestras (MCYO) is the oldest youth orchestra program in the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area. Chester J. Petranek founded MCYO 1946, and it is now affiliated with the Strathmore music center, as well as the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and the National Philharmonic. Originally named "Montgomery County Youth Orchestras," the name was changed in 2002.

It contains five groups: the Chamber Strings (a string orchestra with members in grades 4-6, founded in 1995), the Young Artists (a full orchestra with members in grades 6-8, founded in 1972), the Symphony (a full orchestra with members in grades 7-9, founded in 1964), the Philharmonic orchestra (a full orchestra with members in grades 10-12, founded in 1946 as the original orchestra), and the Sinfonia (a string orchestra with members in grades 10-12, founded in 2004).