That may be true re: the classical world. However, I do believe that pedigree may count for something in some of the most renowned symphonies. For example, a Julliard degree may be looked upon with good promise at the audition stage, whereas others maybe a little less so. This is anecdotal, but one way to corroborate these types of things is to actually look up where members of major orchestras received their education. Thankfully, with the internet, this is possible.
Since he is still young, you may indeed want to do just that – try to match up your education with the kind of profile that successful members have done. Also, being in the NY vicinity is a plus in this regard, both for access and possibly some private education or guidance.