For nearly 80 years, San Diego Youth Symphony and its music education programs have empowered thousands of young musicians through rigorous and inspiring musical experiences.
Through its flagship youth orchestra in Balboa Park, community engagement programs across San Diego County, and innovative early childhood curriculum, SDYS provides comprehensive, cradle-to-college music education. As a national leader in outreach, it serves thousands of young musicians and their families each season.
SDYS believes music fosters social, emotional, and academic growth, equipping students with skills for the 21st-century workforce. Its programs emphasize personal achievement, leadership, and community inclusiveness, celebrating each student as a musician, community member, and future leader.
To learn more, visit keynote-music.org/sdys.
As the Graphic Design/Social Media Coordinator at San Diego Youth Symphony, I supported strategic marketing initiatives that promoted the organization’s brand and programs to a diverse audience in San Diego County and the national music education community. As part of the Development team, I contributed to organization-wide communications, fundraising, advertising, and awareness campaigns. Through my work, I upheld SDYS’s core values of commitment, creativity, equity, collaboration, and service, ensuring impactful and engaging digital and print storytelling.
Design is more than just visuals—it’s about storytelling, impact, and connection. As a Graphic Designer at KeyNote, I crafted compelling marketing materials that brought our brand to life, from concert programs and brochures to digital assets and promotional content. Every design choice is intentional, ensuring consistency across platforms while resonating with our diverse audience. Whether refining layouts, enhancing images, or preparing files for print and digital use, I blended creativity with strategy to elevate our brand’s presence.
Web design is more than just arranging elements—it’s about crafting a seamless user journey that tells a story and drives engagement. Using WordPress, I built and customized different sections of the website to bring our brand’s vision to life online. From structuring pages and enhancing functionality to ensuring seamless navigation, every detail is carefully designed to create a compelling digital experience. Balancing creativity with technical precision, I made changes to the SDYS site that not only look great but also connect meaningfully with our audience across platforms.
Full website here: keynote-music.org
Social media is where storytelling meets strategy. At KeyNote, I crafted engaging content that not only informed but inspired, bringing our brand to life across Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Through a blend of compelling visuals, dynamic videos, and strategic copywriting, I created posts that resonated with our audience while maintaining a cohesive brand identity. Beyond content creation, I analyzed trends, tracked engagement, and refined strategies to foster community growth and deeper connections. By collaborating with program teams, I ensured our social presence reflected the heart of KeyNote’s mission, making every post a meaningful part of our story.
I captured moments that showcased the essence of KeyNote’s events and performances. By focusing on composition, lighting, and framing, I created high-quality images that aligned with our brand’s identity and engaged our audience. Whether behind the scenes or in the spotlight, each photo contributed to KeyNote’s visual narrative.
View all photos here:
SDYS x University Club_____SDYS Jazz _____ ChIMES _____ Music Discovery
I created videos that captured the energy and highlights of KeyNote’s events for our social media platforms. By focusing on key moments and clear storytelling, I produced short, engaging clips that showcased our performances, behind-the-scenes work, and connected with our audience in a meaningful way.
View all videos here: SDYS Instagram
Caption:
🎶 Registration for the 2025-2026 season is now OPEN! 🎉
Enrollment forms and audition materials are available starting today. We can’t wait to welcome you for another incredible season of music-making!
🔗 Link in bio for more info
#NowEnrolling#YouthSymphony#AuditionsOpen#SDYS
Caption:
Registration opens next week, on April 14! 🎶
@sdyouthsymphony is an inclusive and rigorous learning environment, for young people from all backgrounds and skill levels.
Here's what makes #SDYS an unforgettable experience:
✨ An opportunity to meet new friends & musicians 🤝
🎵 An investment in your musical passion 🎻
🏆 Mentorship that cultivates excellence 🎼
📜 Becoming a part of living history 🎶
😃 Having fun! 🎉
From inspiring rehearsals to lifelong connections, SDYS is more than just ensembles — it's a vibrant and storied community. Spring registration opens next week for Fall 2025 classes!
Don't miss your chance to join!
With 12+ orchestras and wind ensembles, we have a place that’s just right for you. Find out more and get going with the link in the ✨bio.
We can't wait to make music with you!
Reg/Auditions *OPEN APRIL 14* (closing June 5).
#youthsymphonies#SDYS#JoinSDYS#YoungMusicians#Fall2025#SoCalOrchestraLife
Kate Battenfeld - Associate Director, Early Childhood Programs
"Aaron Brenner brought creativity, professionalism, and warmth to his work at San Diego Youth Symphony. His skills in marketing, design, photography, and video helped us tell compelling stories and strengthen the public presence of our early childhood programs. He was a collaborative and dependable teammate whose contributions made a lasting impact."
Erin Kavanagh - Associate Director, Marketing & Communications
“Aaron consistently brought creativity, professionalism, and a collaborative spirit to every project—delivering impactful content and embodying our organization’s values through thoughtful design and communication."
Already have a design in mind?
Or want me to take care of everything? Let’s chat and find out what’s best for you!
