Founded in 1977, the Greater Baltimore Youth Orchestra (GBYO) Association became a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation in 2001. In 2006, the GBYO entered a partnership with Loyola University in Maryland and became the University’s Ensembles-in-Residence.

The four orchestral ensembles which, along with the Bridges Program, comprise the Greater Baltimore Youth Orchestras are: the Youth Orchestra, a pre-professional orchestra which performs works from the standard orchestral repertoire as well as music by living composers; the Concert Orchestra, an intermediate-level orchestra; and the Sinfonia & Sinfonietta, two string ensembles for early-level string players with an emphasis on developing musical ensemble skills.

Artistically, the Youth Orchestra has continued to build upon its reputation for presenting high-quality performances of some the greatest music in the symphonic literature, including Berlioz’ Symphonie Fantastique, Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4, Holst’s The Planets, Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5, and Mahler’s Symphony No. 2. Also, the GBYO continues to champion contemporary works, including Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from West Side Storyand Daugherty’s Route 66. Recent seasons have featured contemporary American composers who represent a diverse cross-section of the Americas, such as Higdon, Holland, Sánchez-Gutiérrez, Britt, Ellington, and Roumain – and included three local premieres (Higdon’s blue cathedral, Britt’s Inledning, and Holland’s Motor City Dance Mix).