25 reasons to love the NJSO Youth Orchestras
As the NJSO Youth Orchestras (YO) celebrate their 25th anniversary, we highlight some of the many reasons to love them:
1. Humble beginnings. Since its founding in 1990, the NJSO Youth Orchestras have grown from a single ensemble of 29 students to a robust family of four ensembles—the Academy Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, Violin Ensemble and Training Ensemble.
2. Connecting students from 11 counties. The youth orchestras serve more than 180 students from 11 counties of the state, with a focus on African-American and Latino youth in the Greater Newark area.
3. 1,500 student musicians in 25 years. Over the past quarter-century, the program has reached nearly 1,500 young people across the state of New Jersey.
4. It’s not only about the music. YO’s culture of peer exchange teaches mentorship, collaboration, leadership and problem solving, and it gives members the chance to work with students in NJSO CHAMPS, the Orchestra’s El Sistema-inspired music education program.
5. Great leaders. Artistic Director Jeffrey Grogan, the NJSO’s Education & Community Engagement Conductor, leads the Academy Orchestra and Training Ensemble. NJSO violist Henry Kao conducts the Chamber Orchestra, and NJSO violinist Naomi Youngstein leads the Violin Ensemble.
6. Getting to perform on big concert stages. The Academy Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra will perform at Carnegie Hall on Sunday, March 6, at 8:30 pm as part of the WorldStrides Heritage Performance’s Elite Performance Series. The ensembles have performed at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Shea Center for the Performing Arts and more.
7. NJSO musician coaches. NJSO musicians share their passion for classical music and education with the next generation of music lovers; 19 orchestra members provide weekly coaching and inspiration for student in all of the youth orchestras’ ensembles.
8. Opportunities to play side-by-side with the NJSO. The Academy Orchestra annually performs a side-by-side concert with the NJSO at NJPAC.
9. Chamber concerts for the community. Every member of the Academy Orchestra participates in a chamber ensemble and performs in the orchestra’s annual chamber concert in Newark. The diverse group of ensembles range from string and flute quartets to wind and brass ensembles—each receives coaching from an NJSO musician.
10. Giving back to the community. Throughout its history, the youth orchestras have performed for audiences in community settings, including concerts at senior centers and prelude performances before NJSO concerts. Students are also giving back by mentoring NJSO CHAMPS.
11. Henry Lewis Concerto Competition. The annual Henry Lewis Concerto Competition celebrates discipline, dedication and accomplishment by providing members of the NJSO Academy Orchestra with the opportunity to perform as soloists with the ensemble.
12. Bradley Hall. The Youth Orchestras’ home away from home is Bradley Hall at Rutgers University–Newark. Every Saturday, we fill the building’s rehearsal spaces and classrooms with the sounds of great music.
13. Bring-a-Buddy Day. Each year, YO opens the doors a rehearsal to invite students’ friends and their families to check out the program. Buddies sit side-by-side with YO members at rehearsal, and buddies and their parents then attend an audition workshop led by an NJSO musician.
14. Great music. The students of the NJSO Youth Orchestras learn and perform some of the greatest music in the classical repertoire. This season, the ensembles have performed music from Dvořák’s “New World” Symphony and Tchaikovsky’s Serenade for Strings.
15. Making people happy. Violist Lyra Flores, class of 2015, says: “The beauty of music is often underestimated or goes unnoticed, but I was fortunate to get the chance to experience this beauty every Saturday morning. One of the best things about the NJSO’s youth orchestra program is that it allowed me to do what I love most and also enabled me to improve as both a musician and a person. I have learned that teamwork is key in producing extraordinary results. I have learned to stay motivated if I wish to accomplish a goal and to persevere if I cannot accomplish that goal immediately. I have learned not to be afraid of trying new things, to recognize my weaknesses and strive to improve them. I plan to take everything I have learned during my experience in this program with me to college and as I go through life, for it has undoubtedly shaped the person I am today!”
16. Life preparation. The Youth Orchestras provide its musicians with an education that goes beyond music, teaching skills that will serve the students in whatever career path they ultimately choose. Says NJSO Interim President & CEO Susan Stucker, “The youth orchestras give students a chance to become not only better musicians, but also wonderful citizens. Both aspects are equally important. Performing concerts and working with NJSO musicians are tremendous artistic and career development opportunities—it’s not just music; it’s life preparation.”
17. Career preparation. Youth Orchestra alums include current Elizabeth High School Orchestra Director Shakura M. Ismail, who says: “I’d already been involved with playing in an orchestra in school, but what I didn’t have was the one-on-one experience [the NJSO Youth Orchestras] provided. We covered lots of things I hadn’t worked on during school. The beauty of the program is the different orchestras within the larger organization, so there’s room for growth. The experience of working side-by-side with pros from the NJSO is really special. Music and the arts are such an important part of being alive, and [this program] really offers a place to grow as an artist.”
18. Learning from special guests. The Youth Orchestras have had opportunities to meet and work with NJSO guest artists; last year, violin superstar Sarah Chang gave a masterclass for YO students as part of her Winter Festival residency, and she spoke about her career, the determination it takes to become a professional musician and how performing concerts all over the globe lets her travel the world.
19. Inspiring graduates. Graduating seniors go off to top-tier colleges and universities to study everything from music to bioengineering.
20. Awesome people and friends. Violinist Laura Peña, class of 2015, calls YO a “fantastic family.” She says: “There is nothing that matches the feeling of being poised and ready to perform on stage with friends and family looking on. Thanks to CO, I have grown exponentially in my playing and I have also gained a group of incredible friends. Being a part of something this great has added artistic depth to my life along with focus, discipline and teamwork.”
21. Nurturing the next wave of student musicians. The newest YO ensemble, the NJSO Training Ensemble, is part of Music Advancement for Newark-Area Youth—a partnership between the NJSO and NJPAC. Participants can study string, woodwind, brass and percussion instruments with the goal of developing musical and instrumental proficiency while building leadership skills. MANY also aims to prepare young instrumentalists for acceptance into performance-based educational programs within the community.
22. Part of the NJSO family. Youth Orchestra students are truly a part of the NJSO family. In addition to working with Orchestra musicians each week and performing side-by-side with the NJSO at NJPAC, students and their families receive free tickets to NJSO concerts.
23. Passing along a love of classical music. Violist Penelope Barinas, class of 2015, says: “This orchestra improved my playing and showed me how fun it is to be part of something great. I’ve always wanted to perform in a huge orchestra and play great pieces, and this program gave me the opportunity to experience that. This program has had a positive impact by showing me what I actually want to do in life. I want to be able to perform, and when I see Mr. Grogan help out children all over the state, it makes me want to teach and show other children the meaning of music.”
24. Henry Lewis. The NJSO Youth Orchestras’ Henry Lewis Concerto Competition was named in honor of the 2015 induction of former NJSO Music Director Henry Lewis into the American Classical Music Hall of Fame. Lewis broke racial barriers in the music world as the first African American music director of a major American orchestra—the NJSO. This naming helps us to mark, in the most special of ways, the 25th anniversary season of the NJSO Youth Orchestras.
25. Swag. Show your NJSO Youth Orchestras pride with YO spirit wear! Sweatshirts and long- and short-sleeved T-shirts are available in honor of the 25th anniversary season; email jborowski@njsymphony.org for details and an order form.