25 Years Of The SF Youth Symphony

We're (sort of) proud to admit we used to play in a youth orchestra ourselves, in our misbegotten youth. Oh, the drama! The miserable attempts to rise in the ranks of the seating chart, the sinking realization that you're two pages behind the rest of the string section in the music, the haughty unfriendliness of the principal trumpet player and his bevy of giggling flautists..... oh, it takes us back.

Well, we can't speak for the behind-the-scenes drama at the SF Symphony Youth Orchestra, but we can pretty much guarantee that these players are a zillion million times better than we were -- they're celebrating their 25th anniversary this Sunday with a performance of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony (the Ode to Joy that everyone loves -- feel free to check out this Final Fantasy remix if you're so inclined.)

For some reason, this performance is being advertised for ages 12 and up. We didn't think there was any nudity or language or violence in the Ninth that would warrant a PG-13-like rating, but hey, you never know! 5/20, $10, 2 p.m., Symphony Hall (Van Ness and Grove).