Youth Orchestra Draws Community Together, Showcases Local Student Musicians

On Saturday evening, November 22, 2025, the San Juan Symphony Youth Orchestra presented its fall concert at Henderson Performance Hall on the San Juan College campus in Farmington. The program ran from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. and featured area student instrumentalists under the direction of San Juan Symphony conductors. Tickets were $25 for the general public and $5 for students who presented identification.

The concert was part of the San Juan Symphony's regional educational and community engagement activities. Young musicians took the stage to perform orchestral repertoire for family members, peers, and other community members, providing a public forum for skill building and artistic expression. The event returned live to a seated audience at 4601 College Boulevard following a season in which local arts organizations have focused on sustaining in person programming after years of pandemic disruption.

For San Juan County residents, the concert served several functions beyond entertainment. It offered affordable cultural access for students and families, reinforced local pathways to music education, and created visible opportunities for youth leadership and teamwork. Music educators and program organizers have long argued that ensemble participation supports cognitive development, social skills, and emotional resilience. Those outcomes intersect with public health priorities by contributing to mental wellbeing and offering pro social activities for young people.

The symphony's choice to stage the concert in a college performance hall also underscores partnerships between higher education and community arts. Henderson Performance Hall provided professional acoustics and a centralized venue accessible to audiences across the county. The lower student ticket price was intended to reduce economic barriers to attendance, which aligns with broader equity goals in arts programming for rural and small town communities.

Community members who attended reported an energetic atmosphere and pride in the student performers. The concert reinforced the role of the San Juan Symphony as a regional institution that supports both arts excellence and youth development. For families and educators, events like this provide tangible examples of how local investments in youth music translate into public benefits.

Residents who want more information about San Juan Symphony programming can contact the organization at 505 326 3311. The symphony plans ongoing educational offerings that aim to expand access and continue engagement with San Juan County schools and young musicians.