A mentoring program for aspiring young musicians that provides a side-by-side rehearsal and performance experience with professional musicians.

Each spring, The Pasadena POPS Orchestra invites talented high school and middle school students from all over Southern California to audition for the chance to study and play side-by-side with POPS musicians. Winners of this annual competition earn the opportunity to perform with the orchestra at one of its concert weekends.

The young musicians receive lessons from POPS musicians prior to the orchestra rehearsals, giving them personal interaction with professional musicians on multiple occasions. This experience is invaluable because it gives talented youth an accurate perspective of what it is like to be a professional musician. In many cases, participation in this program prompts these students to pursue careers in music.