The Orange County Philharmonic Society has picked...

The Orange County Philharmonic Society has picked 22 young local musicians, ages 7 to 17, to play on its next Musical Encounters program to be given at schools throughout the county.

The winners, based from Fullerton to Mission Viejo, were drawn from a pool of 75 musicians who auditioned earlier this month at Chapman College in Orange. Last year, 50 young musicians auditioned.

Started in 1981 and offered yearly since then, the Musical Encounters program sends young musicians to Orange County elementary schools. This year’s winners will play before about 8,000 students in 36 schools from February through April.