BYSO Student Council

Bellevue Youth Symphony Orchestra is proud to introduce the BYSO Student Council, an exciting new program debuting in our 2026–27 Season.

Welcome to the BYSO Student Council page!

The BYSO Student Council (BSC) is composed of driven BYSO musicians who collaborate with fellow students and staff to set goals, plan activities, streamline student communication, advocate for student experience, and gain valuable leadership skills through several meetings over the course of the BYSO academic year.

Student representatives will serve for the entirety of the BYSO academic year, attending bi-weekly/monthly meetings and BYSO events as needed.

Participation in the BSC is uncompensated, but volunteer service hours can be signed off if requested.

Our Mission:

The BSC serves to exemplify BYSO’s commitment to leadership development and community building by strengthening connections between students, ensembles, and staff.

It offers a unique opportunity for BYSO students to grow as community leaders through:

Exemplifying BYSO’s leadership development and community building among students
Creating more community among ensembles, increasing connections between students and staff, and collecting feedback among numerous groups

History and Application Information

How did we get here?

As BYSO expands, we want to deepen our support of the whole child by creating opportunities for student leadership. In the summer of 2026, two students from BYSO’s Youth Symphony approached staff with a proposal for a student leadership council. Their idea was to give students a greater role in building community, share student perspectives, and help shape the future of BYSO. From that initial proposal, BYSO Student Council was born.

We are excited to see where our students take this initiative!

Eligibility Requirements:

Be a part of Premiere, Sinfonia, Philharmonia, Youth Symphony, Flute Choir, Flute Orchestra, or Percussion Ensemble
Be available for most meetings and events
Demonstrate maturity and accountability
Be available for BSC Orientation on Tuesday, October 20th — attendance is mandatory!
A willingness for flexibility and opportunity — anything can happen in the inaugural year!

Preferred Qualifications:

Participate in all three quarters of BYSO’s 2026-2027 year
Have participated in BYSO for at least one full academic year
Skills in public speaking
Leadership experience

As a BYSO Student Representative, responsibilities include:

Bi-weekly or Monthly meetings (both in-person and online)
Attending BYSO events that may not be for your ensemble (such as retreats and concerts)
Completing tasks set by BSC in a timely manner
Collaborating with fellow council members and staff on various projects, which may include creating social media posts, gathering feedback, working with younger students, leading activities, building community, and more!

Click here to view our Tentative Meeting Schedule

What makes a good student representative?

A positive attitude and openness to different perspectives
Skills in teamwork, communication, adaptability, empathy, among others
Ability to work tactfully and courteously with staff and students
Arriving to meetings/events promptly
Upholding BYSO’s mission and purpose

Application Information

Applications have closed for the 2026-27 season.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis by both members of BYSO staff and student leaders. All identifying information will be anonymized prior to review. Students will be notified of their results via email by October 9th. The first meeting is scheduled for October 20th.

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Emma Byrd, BYSO Programs Manager, at admin@byso.org.