The Dresden Youth Symphony Orchestra at the Heinrich Schütz Conservatory (DJSO) offers pupils between the ages of 13 and 21 the joyful and instructive cultivation of symphonic orchestral literature of all styles without pressure to perform or compulsory orientation towards a career in music. In addition to technical playing skills, coordination and above all social competence are developed. The DJSO is directed by Prof. Milko Kersten, who also teaches at the Hochschule für Musik Carl Maria von Weber Dresden.
Particularly committed and talented members of the orchestra regularly have the opportunity to perform as soloists with the orchestra and to present themselves in public. In addition, the orchestra offers the students the opportunity to meet outstanding register lecturers of the HSKD, the musicians of the sponsoring orchestra of the Dresden Philharmonic Orchestra and renowned artistic personalities of all genres.
The ensemble currently has 64 members who work together in weekly rehearsals and regular rehearsal weekends, usually on two to three programmes per school year.
In January 2006, the Dresden Philharmonic took over the sponsorship of the youth orchestra. Highlights of this cooperation are the family concerts after joint rehearsals in the registers and in the whole orchestra.