New York Youth Symphony

New York Youth Symphony
Former Music Director Ryan McAdams leads the New York Youth Symphony in Carnegie Hall, November 30, 2008. Program included Beethoven's "Leonore Overture No. 3."
Background information
Origin	New York, New York, United States
Genres	Classical, popular music, soundtrack, new-age, musical theatre, film score
Occupation(s)	Symphony orchestra
Years active	1963 – present
Associated acts	Randy Newman Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir
Website	www.nyyouthsymphony.org
Members	Executive Director Shauna Quill Music Director Joshua Gersen Assistant Conductor Tristan Rais-Sherman Concertmaster Joseph Morag Director of the Chamber Music Program Lisa Tipton Director of Jazz Band Classic Matt Holman Director of Making Score Kyle Blaha Director of Artistic Operations Robbi Kearns

Executive Director
Shauna Quill
Music Director
Joshua Gersen
Assistant Conductor
Tristan Rais-Sherman
Concertmaster Joseph Morag

The New York Youth Symphony, founded in 1963, is a tuition-free music organization for youth in New York City, widely reputed to be one of the best of its kind in the nation and world. Its programs include its flagship symphony orchestra, Chamber Music program, Jazz Band Classic, Apprentice Conducting, and Making Score (composition program). Its members range from 12 to 22 years of age.

The Youth Symphony is also a leader in classical music with its innovative commissioning program called First Music, established in 1984, in which young composers under the age of 30 are selected to write works for the programs. Commissions have included composers such as David Lang, Augusta Read Thomas, Julia Wolfe, and Aaron Jay Kernis. Each Orchestra program (there are three each year) includes such a world premiere. There is also a First Art commissioning program for young visual artists. NYYS members are said to include the most talented young musicians in the New York area.

The Youth Symphony consists of young musicians from the New York metropolitan area, and has them perform before their careers hit full stride. The orchestra rehearses at Carnegie Hall under the supervision of New York Philharmonic members, and performs at Carnegie Hall, Merkin Hall, and local colleges.

The Orchestra, the flagship program of the NYYS, was founded in 1963. It has had a tradition of seeking the best young orchestral talent in the New York area from ages 12 to 22. The New York Times wrote: "its players ... are sufficiently devoted to the music that when they perform at Carnegie Hall ... they produce a sound that would do an adult orchestra proud, in programs built largely of cornerstones of the standard canon."

The orchestra plays three programs per year, each of which is performed at both United Palace and Carnegie Hall. The New York Times reported: "Its Carnegie Hall concerts are always ambitious and usually excellent". Each program usually includes, at least, a cornerstone of the orchestral repertoire and a premiere of a commissioned work. Usually a soloist or soloists perform, either an established artist, or a young artist as presented by the Roy and Shirley Durst Debut Series which was founded in 1997. The first Durst artist was Alisa Weilerstein. For the 2010–11 season, these artists were Anthony McGill, Principal Clarinet of the Metropolitan Opera, violinist Hahn-Bin, and percussionist/composer Eric Guinivan.