Youth Orchestra gives chamber music performances
NEWARK, NJ (March 14, 2013)—Chamber ensembles in the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra’s Greater Newark Youth Orchestra (GNYO) give two performances in Newark this month. On Saturday, March 16, 40 student musicians in select GNYO chamber music ensembles will participate in the fourth annual GNYO Gives Back Day, a community-service event in which the students perform in a concert for senior citizens at the New Community Corporation Extended Care Center in Newark. On Saturday, March 23, the third annual GNYO chamber music concert at Bethany Baptist Church in Newark—free and open to the public—will feature performances by all of the orchestra’s chamber ensembles.
The GNYO ensembles, ranging from string quartets to woodwind choirs, have been rehearsing music selections since November and will perform movements from Dvořák’s “American” String Quartet, Mozart’s String Quartet K. 575, Boismortier’s Sonata for Flute Trio and Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel arranged for clarinet choir, as well as contemporary works like Ewald’s Symphony for Brass and Guarnieri’s Estudo for percussion instruments.
“GNYO Gives Back Day and our chamber concert are two very important and meaningful elements of our program,” says GNYO Artistic Director Jeffrey Grogan. “Chamber music gives our students a chance to rehearse and perform in smaller groups, which inspires more intense musical growth. The students perform at GNYO Gives Back Day as a way to share music with those who could benefit from the wonderful power of music.”
New Community Corporation is the largest community-development agency in the country, serving thousands annually through emergency food assistance, transitional housing facilities for the homeless, extensive rehabilitation services for patients and other services.
The chamber music concert takes place at Bethany Baptist Church in Newark on Saturday, March 23, at 2 pm. The performance is free and open to the public.
GREATER NEWARK YOUTH ORCHESTRAS
Established in 1990, the NJSO’s Greater Newark Youth Orchestras give qualified middle- and high-school students—especially minority youth—the opportunity to study for as many as 21 weeks with NJSO musicians and gain performance experience in an encouraging and motivating environment. The program is comprised of three separate ensembles (the Greater Newark Youth Orchestra, Greater Newark Chamber Orchestra and Greater Newark Violin Ensemble) that perform two full concerts each year. Additionally, the Youth Orchestra performs a side-by-side concert with the NJSO and gives a chamber music concert.
In addition to developing musical talent, the students gain critical life skills including teamwork, leadership, problem solving and multi-tasking. The significance and achievements of this program and its impact on the lives of these young musicians have received national recognition from the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities.
Combined, each season the three ensembles typically serve more than 130 students ages 10–18, representing 11 counties throughout northern and central New Jersey.
For more information about the Greater Newark Youth Orchestras, visit www.njsymphony.org/gnyo.