National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America

National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America
Orchestra
Short name NYO-USA
Founded 2012
Location Purchase College, State University of New York
Website www.carnegiehall.org/Education/National-Youth-Orchestra-of-the-United-States-of-America/

The National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America (NYO-USA)[1]:5 is an American youth orchestra organized by Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute. It was established in 2012, and its first concert tour took place in the summer of 2013.

Each summer, following an application and audition process, about 120 musicians ages 16 to 19 attend a two-week residency at Purchase College, New York, followed by a national or international tour.

History

Perhaps the last national youth orchestra in the United States was the short-lived All-American Youth Orchestra,[2]:173 established by maestro Leopold Stokowski in 1940 before disbanding in 1942.[3]

In January 2012 Carnegie Hall announced the launch of the National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America (NYO-USA).[1]:5 The orchestra was created by Weill Music Institute, the hall’s music education and community outreach wing. The NYO-USA was set up along broadly similar lines to the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain.

Since becoming Executive and Artistic Director of Carnegie Hall in 2005, British-born Sir Clive Gillinson, who himself participated in the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, expressed disbelief that there was not a national youth orchestra in America and worked with colleagues and stakeholders to establish one.[4]

Organisation and administration

Supported by a faculty of principal players from professional American orchestras, the musicians' preparation during NYO-USA’s residency is overseen by the orchestra director. The current orchestra director is James E. Ross.[5]

The NYO-USA has no permanent music director and instead will be led by a different renowned conductor each summer. The inaugural guest conductor is Russian conductor Valery Gergiev.[6]

Funding and sponsorship

2013 [6]

Lead Sponsor Bloomberg
Lead Donors Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Foundation and Marina Kellen French; Ronald O. Perelman; Robertson Foundation; and Joan and Sanford I. Weill and the Weill Family Foundation
Additional support for the inaugural tour Blavatnik Family Foundation; Yoko Nagae Ceschina; The Rockefeller Foundation; The Peter Jay Sharp Foundation; Ann Ziff
Public support National Endowment for the Arts

Orchestra membership and activities

The NYO-USA is a full symphony orchestra consisting of around 120 young musicians.[1]:40 Depending on the repertoire for the season it may or may not include harpists and orchestral keyboardists.[7]

Membership to the orchestra changes each year with an annual application and audition process.

Eligibility

To apply to join the NYO-USA, applicants must be between the ages of 16 and 19 years old during the summer of participation (e.g. for the 2014 season, applicants’ birthdays must fall between July 1, 1994, and June 30, 1998). Additionally, applicants must be United States citizens or permanent residents who are not (or intend to be) enrolled full-time in a college-level conservatory or music department on an instrumental performance major.[7]

Applications and auditions

Applications to join the NYO-USA are made online between the August and November preceding the summer of participation, and include a brief biographical essay, two recommendations and an audition video including a piece of choice and several excerpts. The audition video must also include spoken (biographical, motivational) sequences.[7]

Applicants may apply more than once in any one year by submitting applications for more than one instrument (excluding instrument sub-family combinations such as piccolo and flute), but respective full applications have to be made.[7]

Former members of the NYO-USA may apply to rejoin as long as the eligibility criteria, above, are met.[7]

Residency and tour

On 14 March 2013 the inaugural NYO-USA named membership was announced with 120 musicians from across 42 states chosen by the audition process.[8]

Each year successful applicants attend a two-week residency at Purchase College, State University of New York. Activities include rehearsals, group coaching sessions, various presentations relating to the repertoire and tour locations, and social/recreational activities, and a performing arts center concert.[8]

There then follows a national or international concert tour with the season's repertoire and activities linked to the tour. The inaugural 2013 season had a Russian theme.

It is the intention of NYO-USA to tour to different parts of the world each year.[6]

Seasons' details

Season Guest Conductor Guest Soloist Tour Venues Repertoire Reference
2013 Valery Gergiev Joshua Bell, violin

[9] [10]

2014 David Robertson Gil Shaham, violin
  • Bernstein - Symphonic Dances from West Side Story
  • Britten - Violin Concerto
  • Samuel Carl Adams - Radial Play (commissioned by Carnegie Hall)

*Mussorgsky - Pictures at an Exhibition

 [6][10]

[11]

2015 Charles Dutoit Yundi Li, piano

[12]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Carnegie Hall (2012). Carnegie Hall presents: 2011-2012 Annual Report. New York: Carnegie Hall.
  2. ↑ José Antonio Bowen, ed. (2003). The Cambridge Companion to Conducting. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  3. ↑ Wakin, Daniel J. (January 11, 2012). "Carnegie Hall to Establish National Youth Orchestra". New York Times. Retrieved 28 July 2013.
  4. ↑ "NYO-USA: An Inspiring Start". Carnegie Hall: Blog. Carnegie Hall. July 3, 2013. Retrieved 28 July 2013.
  5. ↑ "National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America: 2013 Faculty". Carnegie Hall. Carnegie Hall. Retrieved 28 July 2013.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 "National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America: Frequently Asked Questions". Carnegie Hall. Carnegie Hall. Retrieved 28 July 2013.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 "National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America: Application Process". Carnegie Hall. Carnegie Hall. Retrieved 28 July 2013.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Announcing the 2013 National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America". Carnegie Hall: Blog. Carnegie Hall. March 4, 2013. Retrieved 28 July 2013.
  9. ↑ "National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America: 2013 Residency and Tour". Carnegie Hall. Carnegie Hall. Retrieved 21 September 2013.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America: Guest Artists". Carnegie Hall. Carnegie Hall. Retrieved 28 July 2013.
  11. ↑ "National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America: 2014 Residency and Tour". Carnegie Hall. Carnegie Hall. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  12. ↑ "NYO-USA Tours China with Dutoit and YUNDI". Carnegie Hall. Carnegie Hall. Retrieved 2 Feb 2013.

External links