The Norwalk Youth Symphony (est. 1956) is a youth symphony for students in middle school and high school in Norwalk, Connecticut. It is known as being one of the most prestigious youth symphonies in the United States; The symphony attracts students from all over Connecticut and in some parts of New York.[1] The Norwalk Youth Symphony has played in several locations, including the Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary, Italy and the United Nations. They have also performed several times at Carnegie Hall and Tanglewood, Massachusetts.
The Norwalk Youth Symphony consists of five orchestras:
Principal: Conductor, Johnathan Yates. This is the most advanced group, performing advanced and demanding music that is not usually performed by students. In other words this orchestra plays professional level music.
Concert: Conductor, Richard Brooks. This orchestra is made up of advanced/intermediate students that still need time to develop their skills prior to moving into the Principal orchestra.
Philarmonia Orchestral Winds: Conductor, Carly Kulawitz. This is a woodwind/ brass orchestra that is often the beginning level for most wind/ brass players.
Philarmonia Orchestral Strings: Conductor, Jessica McNamara. This is a string orchestra that offers harder and more challenging music and prepares players for Concert Orchestra.
Prelude: Conductor, Susan Jimenez. This is a string orchestra that is often the beginning level for most string players when entering into the orchestra.
The NYS rehearses and performs and Norwalk City Hall. The NYS performs 3 concerts at The Norwalk City Hall a year. In 2008 the NYS had the privilege to travel overseas to Europe to visit the wonderful cities of Prague, Vienna, Budapest, and Salzburg. In 2010, the NYS performed in Rome, Florence, & Venice in Italy as well. The symphony also has many students that participate in Western Regionals as well as All-State orchestra, and often has players in the top places in these orchestras that are state ran yearly.