Led by Artistic Advisor, Plácido Domingo, YOA Orchestra of the Americas is a multicultural symphony orchestra of 100 musicians, ages 18 to 30, from more than 20 countries of the Western Hemisphere. Musicians are selected through a rigorous audition process at local, national and international levels. The chosen musicians participate on full scholarship. Each July, the musicians gather for a 2-week residency to participate in master classes and rehearsals of diverse and challenging repertoire in preparation for a 3-week concert tour in multiple countries of the Western Hemisphere, and beyond. More than 1,000 musicians audition for YOA each year; generally around 80 musicians. [1]
Contents |
YOA's faculty includes principals and former principals from top international music institutions including Berlin Philharmonic, Rome Opera Orchestra, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, Toronto Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, Chicago Symphony, Boston Symphony, Montreal Symphony, Stavanger Symphony, Mahler Chamber Orchestra, and Costa Rica Symphony, among others.
The mission of YOA is to bring together energetic, talented musicians to pursue excellence and celebrate cultural diversity as a catalyst for social change.
YOA's vision is to enable outstanding young musicians from all backgrounds to realize their artistic passion and human potential and become effective ambassadors by bringing the transformational power of orchestral music to diverse audiences.
Founded in 2001 by New England Conservatory and Vision, Inc., Youth Orchestra of the Americas (YOA) was inspired by the National System of Youth and Children’s Orchestras of Venezuela created by José Antonio Abreu. Since its Inaugural Tour in 2002, YOA has performed over 150 concerts for audiences in the Americas and Europe – in Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, England, France, Germany, the Holy See, Italy, México, Panamà, Perú, United States, Uruguay, and Venezuela. YOA has reached over 10 million people through television & radio broadcasts, CD recordings, print media coverage, and documentary films on the orchestra’s formation, mission and programs. YOA guest artists include Plácido Domingo, Yo-Yo Ma, Lorin Maazel, Joshua Bell, Valery Gergiev, Kent Nagano, Leonard Slatkin, Gabriela Montero, Cristina Gallardo-Domâs, Julian Rachlin, Matt Haimovitz, Ilya Gringolts, Ildar Abdrazakov, Berenika and Paquito D’Rivera, among others.
Founded in 1867, New England Conservatory (NEC) instructs more than 800 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral music students from around the world, and has a faculty of 225 artist-teachers and scholars.
Vision, Inc.
Led by Hilda Ochoa-Brillembourg, CEO of Strategic Investment Group, Vision is composed of Latin American leaders from throughout the western hemisphere, including the Director of the Youth & Children’s Orchestra System of Venezuela, José Antonio Abreu.
Filármonica Joven de Colombia
YOA is a certified non-profit organization incorporated in the United States, Costa Rica, and Venezuela. YOACanada is a certified charitable institution with Canada Revenue Agency.