Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra
Encyclopedia
The Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra, commonly known as the ASYO, is an organization featuring Atlanta
's young instrumentalists, created in 1974.
Every September, about 650 middle to high school instrumentalists go through one or more auditions for places in the ASYO (the minimum age requirement is 13, though exceptions are made). Only about 120 will be selected to participate in the season.
, a practice that is relatively rare for American orchestras. However, this arrangement worked for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra since it began as a youth ensemble itself, the Atlanta Youth Symphony of 1944-47.
Thirty years after the start of the Atlanta Youth Symphony, the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra was formed, first directed under Michael Palmer
, Associate Conductor of the ASO. Sung Kwak was successor after Michael Palmer as conductor of the Youth Orchestra for two years. Since 1979, Jere Flint has been the ASYO's Conductor, involved in all aspects of the Youth Orchestra's concerts.
Part of many Saturday rehearsals is devoted to coaching sessions by players from the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. This program has been in effect since Youth Orchestra was founded. More than 50 ASO players have served as ASYO coaches.
The Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra promotes the arts and arts education in the Atlanta community, and it performs an annual concert for the Atlanta Ministry with International Students. Occasionally, the Youth Orchestra performs large symphonic-choral works in concerts with local high school chorus members as a part of the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra Chorus. As of the 2006-2007 season, the last time this occurred was May 2002. The ASYO also commissions works by local and national composers.
The ASYO has hosted or exchanged visits with youth orchestras from Great Britain
, Australia
, and Berlin
, Germany
.
During the 1996 Cultural Olympiad, the Youth Orchestra performed to sold out audiences. The Youth Orchestra was also the featured orchestra at the Closing Ceremonies of the 1996 Olympic Games and broadcast worldwide. Four concerts of recent performances have been highlighted on National Public Radio's "Performance Today" series. In addition to that, ASYO concerts are replayed on local radio station WABE FM-90.1.
The Youth Orchestra was invited to perform for the Georgia Music Educators Association in January 2005. In April 2005, the Youth Orchestra performed and recorded with Atlanta rock band Collective Soul
two live concerts. They are showcased in the DVD Home: A Live Concert Recording With The Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra.
In 2006, The ASYO performed with Collective Soul and appear on the band's live "Home" CD and DVD.
Other guest artists including Jennifer Larmore
, Jami Rogers, and Andrés Díaz
have performed with the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra. Guest conductors Robert Shaw
, Yoel Levi
, Mark Waters
, Michael Kamen
, Alexander Mickelthwate
, Donald Runnicles
, and Robert Spano
have also conducted the Youth Orchestra.
A number of the Youth Orchestra's members have gone on to study music in conservatories and university music departments and pursue careers in music, as teachers and performers.
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
's young instrumentalists, created in 1974.
Every September, about 650 middle to high school instrumentalists go through one or more auditions for places in the ASYO (the minimum age requirement is 13, though exceptions are made). Only about 120 will be selected to participate in the season.
The Youth Orchestra
In 1974, the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra was created as a subsidiary of the Atlanta Symphony OrchestraAtlanta Symphony Orchestra
The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Robert Spano has been its music director since 2001...
, a practice that is relatively rare for American orchestras. However, this arrangement worked for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra since it began as a youth ensemble itself, the Atlanta Youth Symphony of 1944-47.
Thirty years after the start of the Atlanta Youth Symphony, the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra was formed, first directed under Michael Palmer
Michael Palmer (conductor)
Michael Palmer is an American orchestral conductor. Since 1993 he has served as Artistic Director of the annual Bellingham Festival of Music...
, Associate Conductor of the ASO. Sung Kwak was successor after Michael Palmer as conductor of the Youth Orchestra for two years. Since 1979, Jere Flint has been the ASYO's Conductor, involved in all aspects of the Youth Orchestra's concerts.
Part of many Saturday rehearsals is devoted to coaching sessions by players from the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. This program has been in effect since Youth Orchestra was founded. More than 50 ASO players have served as ASYO coaches.
Concerts
Each season, the Youth Orchestra performs at least three subscription concerts, in addition to annual Kids' Holiday concerts and a Family Concert. At least one concert each season features soloists of the Youth Orchestra selected through an annual Concerto Competition. Another annual competition, the Scholarship Auditions, reward the winners with scholarships which are used to further musical studies at summer camps, colleges and conservatories.The Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra promotes the arts and arts education in the Atlanta community, and it performs an annual concert for the Atlanta Ministry with International Students. Occasionally, the Youth Orchestra performs large symphonic-choral works in concerts with local high school chorus members as a part of the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra Chorus. As of the 2006-2007 season, the last time this occurred was May 2002. The ASYO also commissions works by local and national composers.
The ASYO has hosted or exchanged visits with youth orchestras from Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, and Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
During the 1996 Cultural Olympiad, the Youth Orchestra performed to sold out audiences. The Youth Orchestra was also the featured orchestra at the Closing Ceremonies of the 1996 Olympic Games and broadcast worldwide. Four concerts of recent performances have been highlighted on National Public Radio's "Performance Today" series. In addition to that, ASYO concerts are replayed on local radio station WABE FM-90.1.
The Youth Orchestra was invited to perform for the Georgia Music Educators Association in January 2005. In April 2005, the Youth Orchestra performed and recorded with Atlanta rock band Collective Soul
Collective Soul
Collective Soul is an American rock band originally formed in Stockbridge, Georgia. Collective Soul broke into mainstream popularity with their first hit single, "Shine", which came from their debut album Hints, Allegations, and Things Left Unsaid, released in 1993...
two live concerts. They are showcased in the DVD Home: A Live Concert Recording With The Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra.
In 2006, The ASYO performed with Collective Soul and appear on the band's live "Home" CD and DVD.
Other guest artists including Jennifer Larmore
Jennifer Larmore
Jennifer Larmore is an American mezzo-soprano opera singer, noted for coloratura and bel canto.- Career :Jennifer Larmore is an American mezzo-soprano, well known for her versatility, natural beauty and stage craft...
, Jami Rogers, and Andrés Díaz
Andrés Díaz (cellist)
Andrés Díaz is cellist and winner the First Prize in the 1986 Naumburg International Cello Competition. His numerous orchestral appearances include engagements with the Atlanta Symphony, performances with the American Symphony at Carnegie Hall, the symphony orchestras of Milwaukee, Seattle,...
have performed with the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra. Guest conductors Robert Shaw
Robert Shaw (conductor)
Robert Shaw was an American conductor most famous for his work with his namesake Chorale, with the Cleveland Orchestra and Chorus, and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus. Shaw received 14 Grammy awards, four ASCAP awards for service to contemporary music, the first Guggenheim Fellowship...
, Yoel Levi
Yoel Levi
Yoel Levi is a musician and conductor. Born in Romania, he grew up in Israel. He studied at the Tel Aviv Academy of Music, earning a Master of Arts degree with distinction. He also studied at the Jerusalem Academy of Music under Mendi Rodan. Levi won the 1978 International Besançon Competition...
, Mark Waters
Mark Waters
Mark Stephen Waters is an American film director and producer. Waters is perhaps best known for directing Mean Girls....
, Michael Kamen
Michael Kamen
Michael Arnold Kamen was an American composer , orchestral arranger, orchestral conductor, song writer, and session musician.-Background:...
, Alexander Mickelthwate
Alexander Mickelthwate
Alexander Mickelthwate is a German-born conductor. He is one of three sons in his family, and studied piano and cello as a youth. He studied piano performance and conducting in Karlsruhe, Germany, and participated in international conducting courses in Austria and France...
, Donald Runnicles
Donald Runnicles
Donald Runnicles is a Scottish conductor who has worked extensively in other countries, particularly Germany and the USA....
, and Robert Spano
Robert Spano
Robert Spano is an American conductor and pianist. Since 2001 he has been Music Director of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra , and he served as Music Director of the Brooklyn Philharmonic from 1996 to 2004...
have also conducted the Youth Orchestra.
A number of the Youth Orchestra's members have gone on to study music in conservatories and university music departments and pursue careers in music, as teachers and performers.
External links
- Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra website