Celebrating its 50th Anniversary Season, the New York Youth Symphony is the most awarded youth program of its kind in the nation, recognized for its innovative, tuition-free educational programs for talented young musicians. Founded in 1963 as an orchestra to showcase the metropolitan area’s most gifted musicians, ages 12-22, its activities have since grown to encompass programs in chamber music, conducting, composition, and jazz. Through its commissioning program, First Music, the NYYS has commissioned over 100 works from young composers since 1984.
Orchestra
Under the direction of Joshua Gersen, the 110+ person ensemble is recognized as one of the finest youth orchestras in the nation. With its sophisticated programming, performances in one of the world’s greatest concert halls, superb musical leadership, new works commissioned of the nation’s best young composers, outstanding soloists, and professional-level attitude, the ensemble continues to grow and thrive with each new season. “The New York Youth Symphony…often gets compared to professional orchestras, and one can hear why. Its music making is alive and full; its players are thoroughly prepared and very able…they have a freshness and a drive that seasoned ensembles are going to rediscover only very occasionally.” —The New York Times
Chamber Music
The Chamber Music Program is an excellent opportunity for players to enhance their musical abilities, improve their performance confidence, and develop interpersonal skills within small group settings. The program welcomes 80-90 players of all levels and makes every effort to place individual players into ensembles with whom they may feel most comfortable; pre-formed groups are also encouraged to apply. Groups are coached by professionals from throughout the city as well as by members of the Shanghai, Juilliard, and Orion quartets.
“The Chamber Music Program of the New York Youth Symphony has established itself as one of the most well-respected ensemble music training programs in the country…
Jazz
The New York Youth Symphony’s Jazz Band, under the direction of Matt Holman, is a 17-member ensemble dedicated to studying, rehearsing, and performing classic big band jazz music. Modeled on the bands of the 1930’s and 1940’s, the Jazz program preserves this heritage and, keeping with jazz traditions, incorporates it into the current and emerging styles that define the genre for the present generation. Now in its 11th season, students from the Jazz program have been fortunate to perform with featured soloists including Joe Lovano, Scott Wendholt, Suzanne Morrison, Steve Turre, Warren Vaché,
Victor Goines, Slide Hampton, Jimmy Heath, Joe Locke, Eric Reed, Lew Soloff, Gary Smulyan and Frank Wess, giving students a chance to play alongside today’s most exciting professional musicians.
Composition
The New York Youth Symphony’s Composition Program, formerly known as “Making Score,” is the first series of workshops in the country for young musicians to explore the world of composition and orchestration. The program includes workshops exploring the musical thought of a wide variety of composers, with a focus on instrumentation and orchestration. In addition to study, students compose new works for various ensembles, including chamber ensembles, jazz orchestra, and chamber orchestra, which are performed by student ensembles.
Apprentice Conducting Program
“The orchestra has been a training ground for conductors who have gone on to bigger things.” -The New York Times
The world’s finest emerging conductors have found the Symphony’s podium to be an unparalleled opportunity to sharpen their craft, develop their talent, and gain exposure in front of New York’s discerning audiences. The Robert L. Poster Apprentice Conductor Program gives aspiring orchestral conductors the opportunity to study the art of conducting through rehearsal technique, stick technique, score analysis, podium time, and observation, under the guidance of the NYYS Music Director and Assistant Conductor.
First Music
“The most impressive record for championing new music of any ensemble in the United States.” -The New York Times
First Music, the New York Youth Symphony’s young composer competition, commissions America’s best emerging orchestra, chamber music, and jazz composers under age 30. Initiated in 1984, it has been acknowledged widely as one of the leading forces in the United States for bringing the work of gifted young composers to the public’s attention.
“During the last two decades, no youth orchestra in the country has been more relentlessly committed to generating new music than the New York Youth Symphony.” -Symphony Magazine
First Music has awarded commissions over 100 of America’s best young composers since 1984. The winner of numerous awards and accolades, this ongoing project introduces traditional audiences, as well as the musicians themselves, to new trends in music. Three awards are given seasonally for orchestral and jazz compositions and one for chamber music.
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