The diverging sounds of Tchaikovsky’s high-energy “Russian Dance” and the crushing blows of sledgehammers on drywall Friday morning marked a key milestone for a 50-year-old nonprofit.
The leaders, musicians and supporters of Youth Orchestras of San Antonio gathered at a former church and school at 802 Oblate Dr. on the North Side to celebrate the group’s new permanent home.
“Our mission here is to change lives by creating shared musical experiences that unlock possibility and foster belonging for youth of all backgrounds,” said Jerrod Price, executive director at YOSA. “This place puts that mission on supercharge.”
Now undergoing interior demolition in preparation for a full overhaul, the former 2-acre campus of Shearer Hills Baptist Church, and later Legacy Traditional charter school, provides 52,000-square-feet of space for the orchestral groups to rehearse and perform.
YOSA serves more than 2,500 students who range in age from 8 to 20 through orchestras, school partnerships and summer programs, and works to remove financial and social barriers to high-quality music education.
Rehearsals are conducted across the city at 15 different places, including the University of the Incarnate Word, Alamo Heights High School and UT San Antonio.
The future new home of YOSA will centralize rehearsals in a space designed for practice and performance.
“This new home at YOSA represents an exciting investment in the future of youth and the culture of San Antonio,” said Councilwoman Ivales Meza Gonzalez (D8). “It is more than a space for rehearsals and performances. It’s a gathering place for creativity, learning, collaboration and growth — a place where young people can feel inspired, supported and empowered.”
The organization used donations to purchase the building in 2024 for $2.75 million and plans to invest another $12 million in the first phase of renovations on a large rehearsal hall and several smaller rehearsal spaces.
YOSA leaders are also in talks with Bexar County for its support of the project, Price said.
“The county’s been wonderful annual fund supporters of ours, and I’ve had really fruitful conversations and believe that this will be a really beautiful public-private collaboration.”
Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai said in remarks at the ceremony that the new space “reflects the scale of YOSA’s vision” and commitment to citizens in the county.
“Music education does more than teach notes and rhythm,” he said. “Music enhances an individual’s quality of life in many profound ways. I’ve seen this as a father of my daughter Elizabeth, who, since the third grade, explored music through piano, flute, and violin lessons.”
The planned large rehearsal hall is a former octagonal-shaped chapel topped by a grand dome and adorned with vibrant stained glass.
The San Antonio-based firm Alta Architects is redesigning the space to serve YOSA’s needs, and has begun some demolition work.
“This was great for a church, not as great for this,” said Wanira Magaloni, assistant principal at Alta. But it will be amazing when it’s completed, she said.
“We’ve got some of the premier acousticians in the country that are working on it, that have helped develop this,” added Randy Hohlaus, principal at Alta.”You have to take care because of the shape of this to avoid having bad echoes and things that impede on the music.”
The firm also designed the performing arts center at Fox Tech High School, now under construction.
Sixteen-year-old Rene Lozano played the flute in a five-member ensemble during the event on Friday. He’s been with YOSA for five years.
“I really love being a part of YOSA because it shows me who I can be and who I want to be as a musician and an overall person,” he said.
Lozano is looking forward to the Fine Arts Center’s completion, expected in May 2027.
“I really think it’s going to enhance our playing ability and our overall mindset,” he said.
