Biography

Young People’s Symphony Orchestra

Celebrating its 87th season in 2023–24, Young People’s Symphony Orchestra is the oldest youth orchestra in California and the first independent youth orchestra in the nation. YPSO was founded in Berkeley in 1936 by Jessica Marcelli, a pioneering woman who was bold enough to create a space for young musicians to hone their craft, while also making a career for herself at a time when it was rare to see a woman conductor. YPSO has developed the musical talents and skills of thousands of students in the Bay Area, serving musicians in 31 cities and seven counties including Alameda, Contra Costa, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Solano, and Sonoma. Many YPSO alumni are internationally distinguished musicians and prominent community members.
 

David Ramadanoff, Music Director

David Ramadanoff has been music director and conductor of Young People’s Symphony Orchestra since 1989. He began his professional studies at the Cleveland Institute of Music and Temple University, and was a doctoral candidate at
the Juilliard School until Seiji Ozawa offered him the position of Assistant Conductor of the San Francisco Symphony. He performed regularly on the San Francisco Symphony subscription series, continuing as Associate Conductor under Edo de Waart. He developed and strengthened the Symphony’s educational programs and community concerts.

In 1980 Mr. Ramadanoff won the Leopold Stokowski Conducting Award and in 1982 made his Carnegie Hall debut with the American Symphony. He served as director of orchestral activities at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music from 1984 to 1988 as well as principal conductor of the SFCM Orchestra. He has also appeared with the Kansas City Philharmonic, North Carolina Symphony, San Antonio Symphony, Grand Rapids Symphony, Napa Symphony, Santa Cruz Symphony, and Fort Collins Symphony. In addition to YPSO, Mr. Ramadanoff is music director of the Master Sinfonia Chamber Orchestra and conductor of the California Sound Collective. He previously served as music director of the Vallejo Symphony.