NATIONAL YOUTH ORCHESTRA OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
—FEATURING 120 OF THE COUNTRY’S BEST YOUNG MUSICIANS—
SET FOR SUMMER 2014 U.S. TOUR
JULY 20–AUGUST 4
Acclaimed Conductor David Robertson Leads Orchestra on Eight City Tour
Featuring Celebrated Violinist Gil Shaham with Exciting Concerts from Coast to Coast
NYO-USA to Make Carnegie Hall Debut on July 22 in New York City,
a Performance Heard Worldwide Via Carnegie Hall Live Broadcast and Digital Series
| (April 24, 2014; NEW YORK, NY)—This summer, the National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America (NYO-USA), featuring 120 outstanding young musicians from across the country, will come together for a second annual year of extraordinary music-making.
The members of the 2014 orchestra—all ages 16-19, hailing from 35 U.S. states plus Washington DC and Puerto Rico—have been recognized by Carnegie Hall as being among the finest players in the country, following a comprehensive audition process. This summer’s NYO-USA will feature 24 returning musicians from the 2013 inaugural orchestra. Click here for a full list of musicians. Following acclaimed inaugural year performances in Washington DC, Moscow, St. Petersburg, and London, this year’s NYO-USA will be introduced to concertgoers across the U.S. with an eight-city, coast-to-coast tour from July 20 to August 4. The tour schedule is as follows:
The orchestra will be led by dynamic American conductor David Robertson and joined by virtuoso violinist Gil Shaham as soloist for this year’s tour. Prior to the tour, the musicians will travel to New York in early July to begin an intensive two-week training residency on the campus of Purchase College, State University of New York, working with principal players from some of the country’s best professional orchestras. “After the incredible launch of this program last summer, we’re excited to take this exceptional group of young musicians from coast to coast, inviting audiences across America to have the opportunity to get acquainted with their own National Youth Orchestra,” said Clive Gillinson, Carnegie Hall’s Executive and Artistic Director. “We continue to be impressed by the depth of world class talent found across the US, and the members who make up NYO-USA’s 2014 roster are amongst the very best players today. We’re certain that their spirit, dedication to coming together as an orchestra, and high level of music-making will be an inspiration to music lovers everywhere.” The orchestra’s 2014 concert program to be performed at all tour venues will include the premiere of a new work from American composer Samuel Carl Adams, commissioned by Carnegie Hall especially for NYO-USA; Leonard Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from West Side Story; Benjamin Britten’s Violin Concerto with Mr. Shaham; and Ravel’s arrangement of Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition. The Carnegie Hall debut concert by NYO-USA on July 22 will be heard by music lovers worldwide via the Carnegie Hall Live broadcast and digital series, created in partnership with WQXR and American Public Media. Tickets for the Carnegie Hall concert are on sale now at the Carnegie Hall Box Office, by calling CarnegieCharge at 212-247-7800, or online at carnegiehall.org. James Ross, director of orchestral activities at the University of Maryland, returns this summer to lead the NYO-USA faculty for a second year. Comprising some of the finest players and section leaders from America’s greatest orchestras and music schools, the faculty will oversee rehearsals during the orchestra’s residency in Purchase and will conduct master classes, chamber music readings, and other seminars on essential music skills, all leading up to the launch of the orchestra’s national tour. While NYO-USA is in residence in Purchase, the NPR radio program From the Top will tape a special edition of the program featuring musicians of the orchestra on Wednesday, July 16 at 7:30 p.m. Program details are to be announced. The 2014 residency faculty members will include: Robert Chen, Concertmaster, Chicago Symphony Orchestra About the National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America Launched in summer 2013 to great critical acclaim, the first-ever National Youth Orchestra of the USA presented concerts with famed conductor Valery Gergiev and renowned violinist Joshua Bell for enthusiastic audiences in Washington DC; St. Petersburg and Moscow, Russia; and at the BBC Proms in London, England. In summer 2015, the members of the National Youth Orchestra of the USA will add more stamps to their passports as the ensemble makes its first tour to China. Purchase College, State University of New York, has been a key partner in Carnegie Hall’s NYO-USA program since its inception. During their two-week residency, orchestra members will be housed on Purchase College’s scenic campus, located in Westchester County, just north of New York City, where they will undertake their initial training and rehearsals. All rehearsals will be centered at the College’s highly-regarded Performing Arts Center and in the rehearsal studios of its School for the Arts Conservatory of Music. Capping the students’ stay and the launch of the NYO-USA’s performance activities will be a concert at the College’s PAC for the public and college community. Program Information LEONARD BERNSTEIN Symphonic Dances from West Side Story Sunday, July 20 at 3:00 p.m. Tuesday, July 22 at 8:00 p.m. Thursday, July 24 at 8:00 p.m. Saturday, July 26 at 8:00 p.m. Monday, July 28 at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 30 at 8:00 p.m. Saturday, August 2 at 7:30 p.m. Monday, August 4 at 7:30 p.m. Lead Donors: Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Foundation and Marina Kellen French; Ronald O. Perelman; the Robertson Foundation; Robert F. Smith; Sarah Billinghurst Solomon and Howard Solomon; and Joan and Sanford I. Weill and the Weill Family Foundation. Additional funding has been provided by the Blavatnik Family Foundation; Yoko Nagae Ceschina; The Rockefeller Foundation; The Peter Jay Sharp Foundation; and Ann Ziff. Public support is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts. Funding for the Carnegie Hall Live broadcast series is provided by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Bank of America is the Proud Season Sponsor of Carnegie Hall.
What the press said about NYO-USA’s 2013 inaugural year: “With their debut this week it already seems safe to say that the future of classical music in America is stronger than it was even one month ago!” — The Times, London “The whole ensemble played with electric commitment.” — The Guardian “The performance exuded vitality and confidence.” — The New York Times “Carnegie Hall may have created the best music camp ever.” — National Public Radio “A simply outstanding and shockingly well-interpreted performance of the Shostakovich Symphony No. 10.” — DCMetroTheaterArts.com “There’s something very special, though, in being present at a performance given with such confidence by young musicians.” — ClassicalSource.com To learn more about NYO-USA, visit carnegiehall.org/nyousa. |
