New Jersey Youth Symphony to Host U.S. Youth Orchestras eFestival
The New Jersey Youth Symphony, a program of the Wharton Institute for the Performing Arts, announced today that it will host the U.S. Youth Orchestras eFestival.
We Never Stopped Making Music
WHEN: September 20, 2020, at 8:00 p.m. EDT
WHERE: via Zoom
and YouTube Live.
ADMISSION: Celebrating American youth orchestras
across the country during the global pandemic, the eFestival is free and
open to the public.
For more information, visit NJYS.org.
Following a constituency meeting of the youth
orchestra division at this year’s virtual League of American Orchestras
conference, New Jersey Youth Symphony Artistic Director and Principal Conductor
Helen H. Cha-Pyo partnered with Russell Steinberg, Music Director of the Los
Angeles Youth Orchestra, to invite music directors across the country to share
how their youth orchestras responded to the global pandemic. Allen
Tinkham, Music Director of the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras; Joseph
Stepec, Symphony Program Director of the Hawaii Youth Symphony; and Troy
Peters, Music Director of the Youth Orchestras of San Antonio, will
join together to celebrate the vitality of American youth orchestras and raise
awareness of the importance of performing arts education, especially during
social distancing. In addition, each youth orchestra will feature a student representative
who will share how continuing to make music throughout the pandemic has had a positive
impact on their lives. The student musicians will also introduce a virtually
coordinated performance video, demonstrating the innovative ways their youth
orchestras have continued to connect, perform, and amplify the creative voices
of young musicians during the COVID-19 outbreak.
“In the midst of this global crisis, we must do everything we can to keep music and creative arts alive in the lives of young people,” said Cha-Pyo. “On behalf of over 400 youth orchestras in the U.S., we want to take a moment to celebrate and encourage our student musicians to keep making music and spread the message of hope in their communities and beyond.”
“Especially in challenging times, it is extremely important to continue exploring ways to keep the music-making going,” said Peter H. Gistelinck, Executive Director at the Wharton Institute for the Performing Arts. “And remaining relevant by constant out-of-the-box thinking is key in this particular situation.”
The New Jersey Youth Symphony, founded in 1979, is a tiered orchestral program offering ensemble education for students in grades 3-12 across New Jersey. NJYS has grown from one orchestra of 65 students to over 500 students in 15 different orchestras and ensembles, including the internationally recognized Youth Symphony. NJYS ensembles have performed in venues including the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Carnegie Hall, and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. NJYS has received numerous prestigious awards for its adventurous programming from the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) and has had six European tours, including participation in the Summa Cum Laude International Youth Festival and Competition (Vienna), winning First Prizes in July 2014 and 2017.
Now in its 42nd season, NJYS continues to achieve musical excellence
through intensive instruction and high-level performance. Under the guidance of
a talented team of conductors, coaches, and teaching artists, students are
immersed in challenging repertoire, learning the art of ensemble playing, and
exploring their potential in a supportive and inclusive environment. NJYS
remains committed to programming works by diverse composers and featured 20th
century African American and women composers such as Duke Ellington, George
Walker, Yvonne Desportes, Emma Lou Diemer, Julia Perry, and Florence Price this
past season.
The New Jersey Youth Symphony is a program of the Wharton Institute
for the Performing Arts. Wharton is New Jersey’s largest non-profit
performing arts education organization serving over 1,500 students of all ages
and abilities through a range of classes and ensembles. In addition to the New
Jersey Youth Symphony, programs include the Paterson Music Project and
the Performing Arts School.