New Jersey Youth Symphony

The New Jersey Youth Symphony (NJYS) is a non-profit organization based in New Providence, New Jersey. Founded in 1979, it provides young instrumentalists from all around New Jersey with music performance and educational experiences. There are three string ensembles, three full symphony orchestras, three flute ensembles, chamber music programs, music theory classes presented in accordance with the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (UK), a summer camp, and other various outreach activities. It operates under auspices the Wharton Institute of the Performing Arts.[1][2] The symphony performs regularly in the United States and Europe. Helen Cha-Pyo has Artistic Director of the Wharton Institute for the Performing Arts and Conductor of the Youth Symphony since July 2018.

History

The New Jersey Youth Symphony was founded by Jane Donnelly, Anne Shuhan, other interested central New Jersey parents, and the administration of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra (NJSO), the state's oldest professional orchestra. The NJSO provided its Assistant Conductor, George Marriner Maull, to serve as Conductor of the NJYS. During the first year, Maull led a group of 65 high school-aged students, and in 1980 he was named the orchestra's Music Director.[3][4]

In 1980 the organization became an independent 501(c)(3) not for profit corporation. As the scope of the enterprise grew, the NJYS Board of Trustees hired Barbara Barstow to create new ensembles, the first of which was the Preparatory Orchestra, now known as the Youth Orchestra (YO). In 1983, she developed the Orchestral String Training Ensemble (OSTE) for younger string players who had not participated in an orchestra before.

In 1997, George Marriner Maull resigned in order to devote more time to his other conducting post, the Philharmonic Orchestra of New Jersey, now called the Discovery Orchestra (TDO).[5] In recognition of his 18-year tenure, Maull was named NJYS Conductor Laureate. He was succeeded first by conductor Adrian Bryttan and later by Paul Hostetter. The Youth Symphony is currently led by Helen Cha-Pyo.

In 2001, Barstow was named Artistic Director of the New Jersey Youth Symphony, Inc., to guide and oversee the entire NJYS entity. She also served as Conductor of Youth Orchestra, Junior Strings and the Orchestral String Training Ensemble. In the fall of 2007, Barstow announced her retirement from the organization in 2008.

NJYS is the only youth orchestra program in the New York metropolitan area that has its own permanent facility for orchestra and small ensemble rehearsals, as well as classroom spaces. The NJYS, Inc. has been administratively led by two Executive Directors: Linda Abrams (1984–2004) and presently Linda Onorevole.

The Youth Symphony has toured Europe five times and has performed at Carnegie Hall,[6][7][8] Lincoln Center and the New Jersey Performing Arts Center[9] on a number of occasions. The group has performed at the European Youth Music Festival in Belgium,[10][11] Smetana Hall in Prague, and Musikverein in Vienna.[12]

Ensembles

The ensembles of the New Jersey Youth Symphony (youngest to oldest):

  • Primo Strings : Beginning String Ensemble for students in grades 3-5
  • Concertino Strings : Secondary String Ensemble for students in grades 5-7
  • Sinfonia : Advanced String Ensemble for students in grades 5-8
  • CWE : Concertino Wind Ensemble for students in grades 5-8
  • Flute Choir, Flute Forum and Fortissimo Flutes
  • Philharmonia : Beginning Full Orchestra for students in grades 6-9
  • Youth Orchestra : Full orchestra for students in grades 7-12
  • Youth Symphony : Advanced Full Orchestra for high school aged students 9-12
Conducted by Helen Cha-Pyo and regularly performs at Rutgers University, Bergen PAC, NJPAC and Carnegie Hall. Tours international destinations including Italy and Vienna every three years during the summer.

Other Ensembles/Programs

  • Fall Chamber Music : For NJYS members
Performs at NJYS Music Center, Master Class Programs, Local chamber programs, nursing homes, schools, and other venues
  • Music Theory/Musicianship Training
  • Summer Camp : For Middle School aged students either currently in NJYS or not in the organization who are accepted by audition, includes 10½ days of intense study all day
Programs : Camp Orchestra, Chamber Orchestras, Chamber Ensembles, Private Lessons, Camp Choir, Tennis, and fun competitions and 2 Performances - Chamber Music and Full Concert

Play-a-thon

Every year, the orchestra holds a fundraiser performance at the Jersey Gardens Mall in Elizabeth, New Jersey with all of the 550 members of the organization.[13][14][15] This light pops concert is the largest youth symphony performance in the world.

gollark: Do you REALLY want to make me have to OPEN MY IDE?!
gollark: If too many people do it, I MAY be FORCED to engage in effort and impleμent it.
gollark: Heavpoot told me to implement that several times, but I didn't.
gollark: They cannot see the botswarms operating here otherwise.
gollark: This may make more sense to the DTel people with screenshots.

References
  1. "New Jersey Youth Symphony - SCL Festival". www.sclfestival.org.
  2. "Wharton Institute for the Performing Arts – Located in Northern New Jersey". Wharton Institute for the Performing Arts – Located in Northern New Jersey.
  3. Fruchter, Rena (December 1, 1985). "Maestro Revives Old Practice" – via NYTimes.com.
  4. "Thrive Global". thriveglobal.com.
  5. "About Us", The Discovery Orchestra official website. Available online
  6. Fruchter, Rena (January 8, 1989). "MUSIC; Youth Orchestras At Carnegie Hall" – via NYTimes.com.
  7. Kozinn, Allan (December 19, 1997). "MUSIC REVIEW; Youth Symphony in Old and New Works" – via NYTimes.com.
  8. Fruchter, Rena (May 22, 1994). "MUSIC; Teen-Agers to Perform at Carnegie Hall" – via NYTimes.com.
  9. "New Jersey Youth Symphony celebrates 40th anniversary | Video".
  10. Fruchter, Rena (May 19, 1985). "Music; Youth Symphony to Offer Prize Program" – via NYTimes.com.
  11. Fruchter, Rena (March 4, 1984). "Youth Orchestra Sets Its Sights High" – via NYTimes.com.
  12. "NJ Youth Symphony awarded first place in International Music Festival". MY CENTRAL JERSEY.
  13. News, Suburban (March 11, 2014). "New Jersey Youth Symphony performs at Playathon at Jersey Gardens Center Court in Elizabeth". nj.
  14. "New Jersey Youth Symphony's Annual Playathon Bigger Than Ever at The Mills at Jersey Gardens". TAPinto.
  15. News, Suburban (February 25, 2015). "New Jersey Youth Symphony performs Playathon at Jersey Gardens Center Court in Elizabeth". nj.
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