The Cyprus Youth Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1987 together with the Cyprus State Chamber Orchestra and until 2006, functioned under the auspices of the Ministry of Education and Culture. Since the establishment of the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra Foundation in 2007, it has been incorporated under their umbrella.

The orchestra rehearses regularly giving several concerts per year in Cyprus and abroad and participates in official events.  In 2006, the orchestra gave concerts at the EuroMediterranean Youth Forum of Unesco as well as the Commonwealth Educational Administration and Management Conference.

Since 2005, Ayis Ioannides has been the driving force behind the youth orchestra expanding on the repertoire of the orchestra and continually striving for new heights.