Spotlight on the Greater Newark Youth Orchestras

The Greater Newark Youth Orchestras—the NJSO’s three-ensemble youth-orchestra family—is known for an encouraging and motivating community that develops both musical talent and critical life skills including collaboration, leadership and problem solving.

One of the highlights of the GNYO experience is the top ensemble’s annual side-by-side appearance with the NJSO; this February, student musicians performed alongside the professional orchestra for works including Bernstein’s West Side Story Overture.

GNYO Principal Clarinet Scott Johnson called the experience his most memorable across his five years in the program. “[As a high-school senior], this concert was my final side-by-side with the NJSO. I had a huge solo, and I played well. You’re in awe because you’re on stage at NJPAC [the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark] and you’re with all these professionals. It was amazing—I feel like I was a part of the NJSO.”

Scott says his time in GNYO inspired his plans for the future: “I plan to become a professional clarinetist, and I want to give back by doing something like GNYO—i.e., coaching other kids who want to become professional clarinetists. I knew I wanted to do something with music since I was in sixth grade, but I didn’t know what kind of music I wanted to play (Scott has also played in jazz bands since middle school). GNYO has helped me decide that I want to play classical music. It’s not just notes on the paper—it’s what you put into it. You can express yourself a lot better with classical music.”

Participation in GNYO also inspires future music educators. Dan Martinho—a GNYO alumnus from the class of 2001—is now a music teacher at Indian Field School in South Brunswick; last year, he served as a Teaching Artist in the pilot of the NJSO’s El Sistema-inspired NJSO CHAMPS (Character, Achievement and Music Project), teaching violin to students in Newark.

“My experience in GNYO influenced my decision to change my college major to music education,” he says. “It definitely made a difference—it was an opportunity to play higher-level music with like-minded individuals who are passionate about classical music. I wasn’t getting this experience at school. I loved classical music before joining GNYO; to [then] be able to play it with others was great.”

As a teacher, Martinho draws on what he learned in GNYO: “I often think about the GNYO conductors that we had and my favorite qualities about them. A lot of what I do as a conductor is based on that experience [and trying] to incorporate the qualities I saw in them. For example, I loved the knowledge each conductor brought about each piece and how that informs their interpretation of the piece. Being knowledgeable about the pieces [I teach] is something I try to do.”

Students also enjoy participating in in GNYO Gives Back Day, an annual visit to the New Community Corporation Extended Care Facility in Newark where they perform for the residents. This year, student chamber ensembles will entertain New Community Corporation residents on Saturday, March 22.

Hear these talented students firsthand at their free chamber music concert at Bethany Baptist Church in Newark on Saturday, April 5, at 2 pm and their annual Spring Concert at Union County Performing Arts Center on Sunday, May 11, at 4 pm.

Check out the latest GNYO news and concert photos on the youth orchestras’ Facebook page.

More information about the GNYO program, including audition dates and requirements for interested students, is available at www.njsymphony.org/gnyo.