YOSA changes lives by providing shared musical experiences that unlock possibility and foster
belonging for youth of all backgrounds. Youth Orchestras of San Antonio (YOSA) has eleven
orchestras that serve young musicians including two advanced orchestras, wind ensemble, flute
choir, mariachi, and six levels of strings.

YOSA’s most advanced orchestra is comprised of the very best young musicians in the San
Antonio area. The YOSA Philharmonic, conducted by Troy Peters, performs professional-level
repertoire in premier venues, collaborating regularly with internationally renowned soloists and
composers.

YOSA Mariachi, led by renowned mariachi musician and educator Miguel Guzmán, provides a
unique opportunity for the finest young mariachi musicians in San Antonio to learn and perform
together with peers from all over the region.

YOSA provides transformative music experiences to more than 2,500 young musicians ages 8-
20 through YOSA Orchestras, YOSA Summer Symphony Camp, and YOSA School Partnerships.
YOSA connects motivated young musicians together and provides a world-class experience that
helps youth grow creatively, academically, and socially. YOSA envisions a community where all
musically inclined youth in San Antonio have a chance to pursue their interests and maximize
their potential. YOSA seeks ways to remove financial and social barriers to high-quality music
education and designs its activities around this purpose.

YOSA changes kids’ lives through music.

Pianist Christopher Guzman enjoys an international performing career, known for his versatility
in styles ranging from the Baroque era to the avant-garde. Since winning top prizes in
international competitions such as the Walter M. Naumburg Competition (USA), the Seoul
International Music Competition (S. Korea), and the Isang Yun Competition (S. Korea), Mr.
Guzman has performed across Europe, North and South America, and Asia. His victory at the
Concours International de Piano d'Orléans in Orléans, France, led to extensive tours and
masterclasses throughout the country.
Mr. Guzman has appeared in major international venues such as Tokyo's Suntory Hall, Leipzig's
Gewandhaus, Buenos Aires's CCK, Carnegie's Weill Hall, and London's Wigmore Hall. As a
chamber musician, he collaborates regularly with members of the world's most prestigious
orchestras and soloists. He is also a sought-after orchestral pianist, and as such has performed
with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and the New York
Philharmonic. Mr. Guzman joined Chicago's Grant Park Symphony Orchestra as a keyboardist in
2024.
While Mr. Guzman has earned several international accolades for performing the traditional
Western canon, many of his performances showcase music written after 1900. His
performances have included world premieres by Donald Martino, Nico Muhly, and Paul
Schoenfield. The New York Times hailed his performance of Christopher Theofanidis's Statues
as "coiled and explosive." His CD of German and Austrian music from the past one hundred
years, Vienne et aprés, is available on the Tessitures label. His CD of Paul Reale's compositions,
Chopin's Ghosts, on the Naxos label, was included in Fanfare magazine's Top Five releases of
2018. Other world premiere recordings include solo works by Peter Ablinger and Jörg
Widmann.
Born in Texas, Christopher Guzman began studying piano at age nine and violoncello two years
later. He later studied at the University of Texas at Austin, the New England Conservatory, and
The Juilliard School. In addition to performing, he is also a Professor of Piano at the Bienen
School of Music at Northwestern University. He previously taught at Penn State University and
has taught masterclasses throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia.