The Berkeley, California-based Young People’s Symphony Orchestra and Music Director David Ramadanoff. Photo by Mika Watanabe.
In last Monday’s (1/15) San Francisco Classical Voice, Janos Gereben writes, “What do young musicians have to say about the challenges and rewards of the music that they play? Ahead of the Young People’s Symphony Orchestra (YPSO) 87th-season winter concert on Jan. 27 … Classical Voice spoke to … students in the orchestra who have ideas and energy to spare. Conducted by Music Director David Ramadanoff, and in collaboration with the Berkeley Community Chorus & Orchestra, the concert includes” works by Poulenc, Kenji Bunch, and Saint-Saëns. The article quotes YPSO musicians, including French horn player Grace Ha, 15: “This is my third year playing the French horn with YPSO, and … I have learned many lessons about the work-life balance … Besides being in the orchestra and being a high school student, I volunteer at my Korean school … volunteer monthly for meal service for the unhoused, and I am co-president of a volunteer tutoring club … YPSO rehearsals are still my highlight of the day. I love the YPSO community and enjoy playing together as a whole orchestra…. Through YPSO, I have experienced new things, such as playing in concerts and visiting Europe. It has enriched my love and appreciation for classical music in a way that I couldn’t experience alone.”
