Tag: Youth Orchestras

Palm Beach Symphony Gives Prize-winning Student Musicians Professional-Level Instruments

Posted on March 2, 2026 by - News Briefs

In Friday’s (2/27) Boca Raton Patch (Florida), Paige Feigenbaum writes, “Three talented high school seniors from Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts in West Palm Beach have received Palm Beach Symphony’s 2026 Lisa Bruna B-Major Award. Violinist Michael Li was awarded first place, pianist Josefina Ezcurra placed second and violinist Elias Cohen placed third. As their prize, they’ve each been gifted new professional level instruments to use for college auditions and future music career endeavors…. ‘We are incredibly proud of these three outstanding students, who have distinguished themselves academically and musically while also giving back to their community…’ said Palm Beach Symphony CEO David McClymont…. Violinist Michael Li received an Alexandru Ozon violin and a Archet SLC gold mounted bow…. Palm Beach Symphony gifted Josefina Ezcurra with a Yamaha P525 keyboard and all essential equipment and accessories…. Violinist Elias Cohen … received a John Weisberg violin made in 2022, a Marco Raposo silver mounted bow and a Bam case. … To qualify for the Lisa Bruna B-Major Award, each student must be a graduating high school senior who resides in Palm Beach County, demonstrates financial need, and intends to major in music and pursue their undergraduate studies.”

Boston Symphony Orchestra and New England Conservatory Collaborate on “BSO x NEC Alliance”

Posted on February 25, 2026 by - News Briefs

In Monday’s (2/23) Berkshire Eagle, a staff-written report states, “On February 12, the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) and New England Conservatory (NEC) launched the ‘BSO x NEC Alliance,’ which formalizes and expands the artistic collaboration between these two institutions. Through an integrated approach to artist cu’tivation, content development, and shared use of campuses and venues, this alliance between a major symphony orchestra and a leading conservatory will fuel innovation and excellence in orchestral music … While the Boston Symphony Orchestra and New England Conservatory have a long history of collaboration, this alliance will strengthen programming and create new opportunities for students and artists to develop their talents and collaborate with world-class musicians … Initial BSO x NEC Alliance programs include: Young Artist Spotlight Series to showcase four NEC artists per season; BSO Guest Soloist Pathway for composers and conductors to engage with NEC through masterclasses, lectures, and rehearsals; Chamber Music Mentorship with Boston Symphony Chamber Players [including] structured collaboration and coaching opportunities; Music Industry Speaker Series at NEC’s Jordan Hall; a joint Honors Youth Chorus, offered at no cost, composed of local students ages eight to 13 from children’s choirs, to receive choral training through NEC Prep’s Choral Department in preparation for performance opportunities with the BSO.”

Winners Chosen at 2026 Sphinx Competition

Posted on January 28, 2026 by - News Briefs

In Sunday’s (1/25) Strad, an unbylined article reports, “The finals of the 2026 Sphinx Competition were held on 23 and 24 January in Detroit, MI. Three finalists in each of the Junior and Senior divisions performed for their chance to win prizes worth more than $100,000. In the Senior division, cellist Andres Sanchez won the Robert Frederick Smith Prize, worth $50,000. Second place went to violinist Sophie Ayer, who received $20,000, while third place of $10,000 went to bassist Taylor Abbitt. Abbitt also received the Audience Choice prize, worth $5,000…. In the Junior division, violinist Alette Williams won first prize of $10,000. Cellist Sofia Hernandez-Williams took second prize of $5,000, while cellist Sonya Moomaw took third prize of $3,000…. Both first-prize winners will also receive solo appearances with major orchestras. The Sphinx Competition, held every year in Detroit, MI, is a national competition for string musicians, that transforms lives by celebrating the artistic talent, providing career advancement opportunities and addressing systemic obstacles within Black and Latino communities. The 2026 Sphinx Competition jury comprised Leon Bosch, Sterling Elliott, Milena Pajaro-van de Stadt, Philippe Quint and Martin Sher.”

Allentown Symphony Partners with Science Center for Immersive Beethoven 9

Posted on January 20, 2026 by - News Briefs

In Friday’s (1/16) Lehigh Valley News (Pennsylvania), Micaela Hood writes, “Sixth-grader Anthony Mora Lopez had only been playing the flute for El Sistema Lehigh Valley three months when he found himself inside a full symphony orchestra—or at least, a digital version of one…. On Thursday evening, Anthony got to feel like [a professional] inside ‘Become a Musician,’ the Da Vinci Science Center’s newest immersive exhibit, created in collaboration with the Allentown Symphony Orchestra…. The interactive experience lets museum-goers become a part of the Allentown Symphony Orchestra’s performance of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony as they isolate instruments and watch a projection of the orchestra—and themselves captured via a quick selfie—spread across a 54-foot wall….  Allentown Symphony Orchestra Music Director Diane Wittry … said she wanted to remove obstacles that keep people—especially children—from experiencing orchestral music. ‘This takes away the barriers,’ she said. ‘People can control their experience—how long they stay, what they listen for—and everyone can access great music.’ Wittry’s vision for ‘Become a Musician’ started four years ago at a League of American Orchestras conference, where, she said, a session on immersive experiences ‘blew her mind.’… She said she returned to the symphony energized by the idea of bringing audiences ‘inside’ the music.”

Bay Area Youth Orchestras Gather for Annual Festival

Posted on January 16, 2026 by - News Briefs

In Tuesday’s (1/13) San Francisco Classical Voice, Rebecca Wishina writes, “Now in its 10th season, the biennial Bay Area Youth Orchestra Festival [BAYOF] is hosted by the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra, and ticket proceeds are donated to local charitable organizations. The most recent concert, in 2024, raised over $20,000. This year’s performers have selected Bay Area Music Project, DrawBridge, Enriching Lives through Music, Students Rising Above and Voices Sonoma as recipients…. For the participating student orchestras—San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra, Berkeley’s Young People’s Symphony Orchestra, the Marin Symphony Youth Orchestra, Palo Alto’s California Youth Symphony and the Santa Rosa Symphony Youth Orchestra—the obvious draw is getting to play in Davies Hall, the 2,743-seat San Francisco Symphony venue…. This year’s BAYOF programming ranges from familiar, Romantic-era works by Giuseppe Verdi and Johannes Brahms to a tricky mixed-meter movement by Berkeley native Gabriela Lena Frank and the cartwheeling finale of Sergei Prokofiev’s Fifth Symphony. After each orchestra performs (with news anchor and master of ceremonies Wendy Tokuda providing commentary during the set changes), selected members from all five ensembles join in the BAYOF Festival Orchestra to perform the grand finale: the last movement of Dmitri Shostakovich’s Tenth Symphony.”

Cincinnati Symphony’s Family-Friendly Concerts Jump-start the New Year

Posted on January 5, 2026 by - News Briefs

In the January 2026 Ohio Magazine, Kelly Powell writes, “For families willing to venture outside this time of year, a trio of all-ages performances from the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra awaits, offering engaging musical solutions for chilly winter weekends. Toy Story in Concert | Jan. 3-4: Audiences familiar with Woody and Buzz’s cinematic journey will want to check out this version backed by the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. While the original ‘Toy Story’ movie plays on the big screen at Cincinnati Music Hall, the orchestra plays live music for the entirety of the film…. Access to Music | Feb. 1: Celebrate the connection between music and the mind at this sensory-friendly performance for kids. The show includes brighter lights, accessible seating and designated quiet areas. The midday concert, produced in partnership with local nonprofit The Well, serves as an exploration of how sound shapes thoughts, emotions and interactions. Peter and the Wolf | Feb. 7: The classic tale from composer Sergei Prokofiev is brought to life on stage with a playful narrator, works by local artist C.F. Payne and lively music…. The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra’s Lollipops Family Series provides fun, bite-size concerts that last less than an hour and are most suitable for children ages 2 through 9 … with pre-concert activities.”

Palm Beach Symphony Donates 1,000th Instrument to Students

Posted on December 19, 2025 by - News Briefs

In the December 8 CBS 12 News  (West Palm Beach, Florida), Gershon Harrell reports, “Music shapes hearts, builds confidence, and opens doors to possibilities children never knew they had. On Monday, local students received that gift of music from the Palm Beach Symphony. The Symphony presented 31 instruments—27 of them brand-new —to students and educators in three Title I schools. This donation includes the milestone 1,000th instrument that has been gifted to students, educators, and schools since the Symphony’s instrument donation initiative began in 2016. ‘We’ve learned with the educational outreach that it’s really all about access,’ explains Palm Beach Symphony CEO David McClymont. ‘So, if we give the students access, whether it be receiving a brand new instrument or attending one of our free children’s concerts, performing with us in a side-by-side performance, it really changes their lives because it lets them have a perspective of what it’s like with hard work and dedication of what they can do in life.’ The [Symphony’s] 2025 Instrumental Music Teacher of the Year Award was presented to Christopher De León, Director of Jazz Studies at Dreyfoos School of the Arts.”

San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra’s Free Open Rehearsal for Kids Receiving Care at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital

Posted on December 17, 2025 by - News Briefs

In Monday’s (12/15) San Francisco Chronicle, Sam Whiting writes, “For 10 years, San Francisco Symphony musicians have taken their instruments to UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital in Mission Bay once a month to perform for the inpatients. But only once a year, at Christmastime, do the patients come to the musicians for a classical concert at Davies Symphony Hall…. Patients are required to have been discharged from inpatient care, and that alone is the greatest Christmas gift of all…. About 400 people came … to a celebration centering on a free open rehearsal of ‘Peter and the Wolf’ by the Symphony’s Youth Orchestra. ‘Many of our patients have never heard classical music performed live due to their medical complexities,’ said Brianna Negrete, music therapist at UCSF Benioff Children’s….  When the doors of Davies opened at 10 a.m. Sunday, a line had formed of kids wanting to get to the instrument petting zoo … People who are immunocompromised got extra space in the first tier and loge. Healthier families could sit wherever they wanted on the main floor…. Narrator Joshua Dela Cruz …said, ‘What I love most about this day is that it brings the magic of music to those who don’t have access to it. It also speaks to the power of music in healing.’ ”

OpenAI Awards $40.5 Million to Nonprofits, Including Orchestras

Posted on December 5, 2025 by - News Briefs

In Wednesday’s (12/3) Associated Press, Thalia Beaty writes, “OpenAI has awarded $40.5 million to more than 200 nonprofits in the first round of grants it has made since it rebranded its nonprofit as the OpenAI Foundation in October…. OpenAI promised to grant out $50 million in July in response to the recommendations of an advisory commission they convened to offer feedback about how it should accomplish its mission of building safe artificial intelligence for the benefit of humanity…. OpenAI asked groups to apply with projects that support AI literacy, strengthen civic life or foster economic opportunity. The awards were limited to nonprofits with an annual budget between $500,000 and $10 million.… The Three Rivers Young People’s Orchestras based in Pittsburgh received $90,000, which is 10% of its annual budget this year. Executive director Lindsey Nova said … her organization already uses ChatGPT as an assistant and drafting tool … Her organization, which runs multiple kinds of youth orchestras, proposed to use the funds to research the possibility of developing … apps. One would record rehearsals and add bookmarks when queued by the conductor. The goal would be to produce notes about what the conductor said during the rehearsal paired with the relevant clip of the rehearsal.”

Among the OpenAI grantees was the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra, based in Park Forest, IL, which received $40,000. In a press release, the orchestra states that it “is keen to investigate utilizing the technology to enhance and bolster its mission and efforts…. ‘IPO champions live music and live arts experiences. IPO also recognizes AI’s potential to strengthen civic and cultural life, if applied thoughtfully,’ says IPO Executive Director Christina Salerno. ‘We see AI not as a replacement for human artistry, but as a tool to expand access, enhance participation, and amplify community voice.’ ”

New Chief Marketing Officer for Seattle Symphony and Benaroya Hall: Derek A. Johnson

Posted on December 5, 2025 by - Who's In

Derek A. Johnson will join the Seattle Symphony and Benaroya Hall as chief marketing officer on January 5, 2026. Johnson will oversee the institutional marketing of the Seattle Symphony and Benaroya Hall, the orchestra’s home, including brand, digital, communications, design and public relations strategies, both external and internal. Johnson is currently serving as interim vice president of marketing at the Nashville Symphony. Prior to Nashville, Johnson was vice president of marketing at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, where he oversaw integrated marketing strategy for more than 2,000 annual events, including the National Symphony Orchestra, Washington National Opera, jazz, hip hop, and contemporary culture, social impact, theater, dance, education, and multidisciplinary programming. Johnson began his career at the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, advancing from marketing and public relations intern to senior marketing manager. A flutist, Johnson performs with Anita’s Flutes and the Category 5 Wind Ensemble, both community-based groups. He previously served as a teaching artist with the DC Youth Orchestra Program and is a graduate of the University of Maryland.