El Camino Youth Symphony
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The El Camino Youth Symphony (ECYS) is a youth orchestra located in Palo Alto, California.
More than 400 K-12 students from over 100 schools from San Francisco to Santa Cruz train and perform in five orchestras and four ensembles, led by the award-winning, internationally recognized Symphony Orchestra. The Symphony Orchestra is comprised of talented musicians ranging from middle-schoolers to high-schoolers from throughout the Bay Area. The orchestra studies under the baton of Dr. Camilla Kolchinsky, a conductor and master teacher who challenges the musicians to reach a high level of achievement. Other staff include Debra Gardner, clarinetist, who serves as the wind coach and assisant conductor, and Cathy Spieth, the executive director for the ensemble. The current concertmistress of the Symphony is Joy Lin.
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[edit] Preparatory Ensembles
In addition to the Senior Symphony, ECYS also maintains several preparatory ensembles for less advanced musicians. At the youngest level, students can participate in Chamber Players (1-2 years experience) or Camerata (3+ years), both led by Dr. Michail Gelfandbien. Galbraith Honor Strings, under Dr. Kolchinsky, is a string orchestra named after the founder of ECYS, William Galbraith; its level is between the Camerata and Sinfonietta orchestras. ECYS also offers the El Camino Wind Orchestra program which focuses on providing high school musicians with large-group and ensemble experiences.
With the increasing number of flutists in the Bay Area, too, ECYS boasts a strong program under the baton of Areon Flutes. Areon Flutes is a Miyazawa artist and is made up of talented musicians Jill Heinke, Kassey LeBow, Tamara Maddaford, and Amelia Vitarelli. The flute ensemble program has a beginning level - Overture; an intermediate level - Intermezzo; and an advanced level for experienced flutists - the talented El Camino Flute Ensemble. The flute ensemble program also offers all students the opportunity to play in chamber music groups with their peers.
The intermediate orchestra offered by ECYS is the Sinfonietta, also led by Dr. Kolchinsky. This program consists of intensive sectional work and is focused mainly on preparing junior high students for admittance into the Senior Symphony.
[edit] Soloists
From the annual Concerto Competition, student soloists are selected to play with the various ECYS ensembles. This competition is uniquely for ECYS members with the general requirement that if selected, the winner must remain in the ECYS program for the upcoming season. Also, soloists of international stature are invited to perform as guest soloists with the Senior Symphony. The featured artist for March 2006 was Robert Chen, concertmaster of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. David Kim, concertmaster of the Philadelphia Orchestra, performed the Bruch Scottish Fantasy with the Symphony in the October 2006 Benefit Concerts, to standing ovations. Both Robert Chen and David Kim have conducted a Masterclass for ECYS, along with their performances. In 2005 pianist Rueibin Chen performed. In 2002-2003 ECYS presented violinist Alexander Barantschik, concertmaster of the San Francisco Symphony, and pianist Jon Nakamatsu. In recent years the Symphony has performed with pianists Barbara Nissman and Vladimir Viardo, cellist Michail Gelfandbein, and violinists Philip Quint and Bin Huang.
[edit] Outreach Program
The ECYS Performance Outreach Program is a great opportunity for ECYS musicians to be in a chamber music group (quartet, trio, quintet, duet, etc.) to provide performances for the community. ECYS chamber musicians earn community service and get to represent ECYS in performances and competitions.
This program is offered to members of Symphony, Sinfonietta, Galbraith Honor Strings, and the El Camino Flute Ensemble.
The ensembles rehearse with a professional coach from mid-September through mid-May.
[edit] International Tours
The Symphony has a long tradition of international tours, in recent years touring has occurred during the summer every two years. Recent tours have included England, Scotland, Austria, France and Italy. In the Summer of 2005 the Symphony performed in Central Europe with violinist Daphne Wang (who played the Barber Violin Concerto), where they received standing ovations in Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Germany. In 2007, the Symphony has toured the Baltics, visiting the countries Finland, Estonia, and Russia. The featured soloist was piano prodigy Chloe Pang, who played Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin.
[edit] Annual Retreat
Each August the Symphony launches its season with a week-long retreat at UC Santa Cruz, where the season program is previewed and the instrumentalists work intensively with sectional coaches and the conductor. Seating auditions are also held there, and there is also the traditional trip to the Boardwalk.
[edit] Program
The Symphony rehearses weekly throughout the school year, beginning in mid-August and concluding late in May or the first week of June. During the tour years, the Symphony has the Bon Voyages Concerts around the near-end of June, being a preview of the Tour concerts. Prior to each concert program, there are two dress rehearsals.
