Founded in 2005 by conductor Sergey Smbatyan, the State Youth Orchestra of Armenia (SYOA) is comprised of young musicians whose maturity to follow the right path of life, diligence and devotion to the art had a significant contribution to the establishment of the orchestra.

Sergey Smbatyan, the artistic director and principal conductor of the orchestra, has gathered around young musicians of his age full of energy and purposefulness smoothing way for great stages and rapidly increasing international awards. Sergey Smbatyans performing career and the musicians mastery in performing art has brought them debuts in Armenia and beyond its borders.

In its young career SYOA has managed to enjoy popularity and high appraisal of the audience in the most prestigious concert halls in Germany, France, Russia, Belgium, Netherlands and other countries:  Opera Garnier (Paris), Konzerthaus (Berlin), Dr. Anton Philipszaal (Hague), Palais des Beuax-Arts (Brussels), P.Tchaikovsky Philharmonic Concert Hall and Conservatory Great Concert Hall (Moscow), etc. 

With close-creative relations with the masters of the world stage Valery Gergiev, Vladimir Spivakov, Maxim Vengerov, Denis Matsuev, Vadim Repin, Grigori Zhislin, Krzystof Penderecki, Vahagn Papyan, Boris Berezovsky and many others the orchestra has reached new heights in the music industry.

In 2008 on the special decision of the Government of the Republic of Armenia the orchestra was granted the title of State Orchestra for their high professionalism and deep understanding of contemporary musical tendencies. 

The State Youth Orchestra of Armenia honorably justifies its existence. Young musicians are persistent initiators of series of charitable activities in Armenia and overseas. They always make an indivisible part of prestigious international festivals, to name a few, Moscow Easter Festival (Moscow), YOUNG.EURO.CLASSIC (Berlin), ''Odessa meets friends'' (Odessa), "Kultursommer Nordhessen" (Kassel), "Young.Classic.Wratislavia" (Wroclaw) and many others.  

Since 2007 SYOA has been the official orchestra of Aram Khachaturian International Competition.

On the 20th Anniversary of the RA Independence the Orchestra started a concert tour around Europe. Performing multi genre playlist by Armenian, Russian and west-European composers, the musicians once again inspired the audience by their professionalism. 

The repertoire of the orchestra is shockingly complex and mature ranging from classical to contemporary genre. It willingly cooperates with todays composers and performs their music.

Starting from 2010 the State Youth Orchestra of Armenia has been holding the Armenian Composers Art Festival under the high patronage of the RA President.

In 2011 the State Youth Orchestra of Armenia, headed by the artistic director and principal conductor Sergey Smbatyan, released its first CD under the title "Music is the answer". Recorded at "Sony DADC" recording studio the CD includes the best works by Eduard Hayrapetyan, Pyotr Tchaikovsky and Dmitri Shostakovich.

In 2012 the State Youth Orchestra of Armenia and the Embassy of the United States of America in Armenia implemented Youth for Youth-Hollywood Non-Stop a joint music initiative, which celebrated the 20th anniversary of U.S.-Armenian diplomatic relations.