New Jersey Youth Symphony

The New Jersey Youth Symphony (NJYS) is a non-profit organization based in New Providence, New Jersey. Founded in 1979, the NJYS has grown to annually provide nearly 450 young instrumentalists from all around New Jersey with outstanding 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. NJYS accepts string players from 3rd grade to 12th grade, and wind and percussion players from 6th grade to 12th grade. All students are accepted by competitive audition and then placed in an appropriate ensemble based on age and playing ability. Audition Information is available at NJYS.org

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 and premier professional orchestra. The NJSO provided its Assistant Conductor, George Marriner Maull, to serve as Conductor of the NJYS. During the first year, Maestro Maull led a group of 65 high school-aged students, and in 1980 Maestro Maull was named Music Director of the NJYS. Within the family of NJYS ensembles this original group, still known as the Youth Symphony (YS), today boasts a roster of approximately 100 young musicians.

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.

Since that time, the organization has grown to include the ensembles and programs cited above. In 1997, George Marriner Maull resigned in order to devote more time to his other conducting post, the Philharmonic Orchestra of New Jersey, renamed to The Discovery Orchestra (TDO). In recognition of his 18-year tenure, Maestro 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 Maestro Jeffrey Grogan.

In 2001, Barbara Barstow was named Artistic Director of the New Jersey Youth Symphony, Inc., to guide and oversee the entire NJYS entity. At that time 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.

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