| Empire State Youth Orchestras | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Capital District, New York, United States |
| Genres | Classical |
| Occupations | Symphony orchestra |
| Years active | 1979–present |
| Website | www.esyo.org |
| Members | |
| Music Director Helen Cha-Pyo |
|
Empire State Youth Orchestras (ESYO) was founded as a single orchestra in 1979 by a group of dedicated parents and music educators. Today's ESYO consists of nine performing ensembles: two full orchestras, a wind orchestra, a string ensemble, two jazz ensembles, and three percussion ensembles. These groups are progressive in nature, but every musician must audition each year for a spot in an ensemble, even if he/she was a member the previous year.
In addition to its performing groups, ESYO has an outreach program of instrumental instruction for inner-city youth in Albany and Schenectady, New York. Known as the City Instruments Training Program, there are 3 components: a string program in Albany; a brass program in Albany (starting fall 2011); and a string program in Schenectady. City Instruments provides free, private, weekly music lessons in school for students selected for the program. The goal of City Instruments is for the students to improve enough to successfully audition for ESYO ensembles. This aligns with ESYO's mission of educating young people and instilling a life-long appreciation for music as well as reaching diverse audiences. This program is entirely funded by donations and grants.
Based in the Capital Region of upstate New York, ESYO ensembles are composed of a total of approximately 300 talented and musically advanced high- and middle-school students from New York State and western New England. The most advanced group, the Youth Orchestra, is considered one of the premier youth orchestras in the United States, and regularly performs concerts at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, Ozawa Hall at the Tanglewood Music Center, and Carnegie Hall and in New York City. In May 2010, the Youth Orchestra performed for the first time at EMPAC at RPI in the grand finale concert of the Albany Symphony Orchestra's American Music Festival. Other ESYO ensembles routinely perform at the Massry Center for the Arts, The College of Saint Rose, as well as at area high schools. The Repertory Orchestra routinely performs with Albany Pro Musica at its annual High School Choral Festival.
A fifth international tour is planned for the Youth Orchestra for the summer of 2012; ESYO has accepted an invitation for the Youth Orchestra to perform at the 2012 World Expo in Yeosu, South Korea and the orchestra will also give concerts in Beijing, Shanghai, and Seoul. Previous tours included traveling to Austria and Hungary in 1989, to Spain in 1994, to Germany and the Czech Republic in 2000, and to Germany, the Czech Republic, and Austria in 2008.
The 2008 tour was particularly distinguished as the Youth Orchestra premiered American composer Samuel Adler's piece "A Bridge to Understanding" and Dr. Adler accompanied the orchestra on tour. "A Bridge to Understanding" was commissioned by ESYO for its Youth Orchestra to perform in a festival of new music in March 2008. During that festival, ESYO ensembles premiered nine pieces - one commissioned for each of ESYO's performing ensembles. The festival was funded in part by a $100,000 grant from New York State Music Fund at Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors.
Helen Cha-Pyo has served as Music Director and Conductor of the Youth Orchestra since September 2002. Other conductors: David Beck, Repertory Orchestra; Robert Hansbrough, Wind Orchestra; Joseph Gumpper, String Ensemble; Paul Evoskevich, Youth Jazz Ensemble; Matthew Cremisio, Repertory Jazz Ensemble; Richard Albagli and Mark Foster, Co-Conductors, Youth Percussion Ensemble; Richard Albalgli and John Antonio, Co-conductors, Repertory Percussion Ensemble A; Genoveffa Vitale, Repertory Percussion Ensemble B. Monica Wilson Roach is the string teacher in the City Instrument Training Program.
Well known for its Youth Orchestra’s participation in CBS 6’s Melodies of Christmas (benefit concerts for the Melodies Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders at the Children’s Hospital at Albany Medical Center), ESYO’s ensembles give approximately 30 public performances a year. ESYO reaches out to the community with an annual free concert for senior citizens, concerts for young people, recitals in nursing homes, and performances at public events.
In June 2011, ESYO won 2nd prize for Adventurous Programming (Youth Division) from ASCAP (American Society of Composer, Authors, and Publishers). The award was presented to Music Director Helen Cha-Pyo at the League of American Orchestra's annual conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This was the 3rd ASCAP award for ESYO; in June 2008, ESYO received 1st prize for Adventurous Programming (Youth Division) and the rarely presented Award for American Programming on Foreign Tours.
Previous conductors of the orchestra have included Victoria Bond, Eiji Oue, Paavo Järvi, Francisco Noya, Jin Kim, and Burton Kaplan. The current conductor of the orchestra is Helen Cha-Pyo.
Current Board Members Include: Susan Storey Bardack, President Judy Cahee, Treasurer Elizabeth Antonio Roberta Bastow Liz Bishop Quintin B. Bullock Nell Burrows Robert Carreau Michael Cowles Carrie E. Flynn Laurey Goldberg Edward Marschilok Michelle McLoughlin Harvey Randall Janet Reynolds Meris Ruzow John Spinelli Sarah Delaney Vero Patti Vitale Christopher White Michelle Woodley