Albuquerque Youth Symphony
Encyclopedia
Albuquerque Youth Symphony is an organization in Albuquerque, New Mexico that seeks to implement a passion for music in young musical students. Founded in 1955, the Albuquerque Youth Symphony is one of the oldest youth symphony programs in the United States today.
and the University of New Mexico
, Dr. Kurt Frederick was the very first conductor of the Youth Symphony, which included students of grades 7-12. Several years later, due to the popularity of the group, the program divided the symphony into two groups: the Albuquerque Junior Orchestra, which was for grades 7-9, and the Albuquerque Youth Symphony for older students grades 10-12.
Over the years, the program expanded to include two middle school groups, the Albuquerque Junior Symphony and the Albuquerque Junior Orchestra, and two high school groups, the Albuquerque Youth Symphony and Albuquerque Youth Orchestra.
.
and, in the summer of 2009, went to Australia
and New Zealand
. In the summer of 2012, AYS will travel to Austria
, Germany
and the Czech Republic
.
and Clovis
, New Mexico
. In the spring of 2011, AYO travelled to Pagosa Springs
and Durango
, Colorado
.
middle schools every year to perform for the students there. This group requires an audition with scales and a solo of the student's choice.
are sold by the Albuquerque Youth Symphony to raise money for each individual musician to pay for their tour. Every year on a specific date, all members of the Albuquerque Youth Symphony get together at a workhouse and fill hundreds of luminarias to deliver to people in the greater Albuquerque area. This is the biggest fundraiser that the Youth Symphony program performs.
History
Founded in 1955 between Albuquerque Public SchoolsAlbuquerque Public Schools
Albuquerque Public Schools is a school district based in Albuquerque, New Mexico.Founded in 1891, the Albuquerque Public School District is the largest of 89 public school districts in the State of New Mexico....
and the University of New Mexico
University of New Mexico
The University of New Mexico at Albuquerque is a public research university located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the United States. It is the state's flagship research institution...
, Dr. Kurt Frederick was the very first conductor of the Youth Symphony, which included students of grades 7-12. Several years later, due to the popularity of the group, the program divided the symphony into two groups: the Albuquerque Junior Orchestra, which was for grades 7-9, and the Albuquerque Youth Symphony for older students grades 10-12.
Over the years, the program expanded to include two middle school groups, the Albuquerque Junior Symphony and the Albuquerque Junior Orchestra, and two high school groups, the Albuquerque Youth Symphony and Albuquerque Youth Orchestra.
Orchestras
The Albuquerque Youth Symphony program consists of seven different groups: one elementary school group, four middle school groups, and two high school groups. To be eligible for participation in the Albuquerque Youth Symphony Program, students must live within a 50-mile radius of Albuquerque, New MexicoAlbuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque is the largest city in the state of New Mexico, United States. It is the county seat of Bernalillo County and is situated in the central part of the state, straddling the Rio Grande. The city population was 545,852 as of the 2010 Census and ranks as the 32nd-largest city in the U.S. As...
.
Albuquerque Youth Symphony
The orchestra with the most talent and experience in the entire program, the Albuquerque Youth Symphony (AYS) contains students in high school (grades 9-12). It requires an audition each year to be a part of it regardless of prior participation in the Symphony, with each hopeful musician auditioning with two chosen excerpts, scales, and a solo of the student's choice. The Albuquerque Youth Symphony goes on tour each year. The tours have a three-year cycle: the first tour in the cycle is small, with the group going to a nearby state. The second tour goes further away, but stays within the country, while the third tour goes to another country. The Albuquerque Youth Symphony has toured Brasil, the Czech RepublicCzech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
and, in the summer of 2009, went to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. In the summer of 2012, AYS will travel to Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
.
Albuquerque Youth Orchestra
This is the second high school orchestra. The orchestra's skill level is slightly lower than that of the Youth Symphony. They must also audition with orchestral excerpts, scales, and a solo of their choice. Again, the Youth Orchestra (AYO) allows all students that live within a 50-mile radius of Albuquerque. The Albuquerque Youth Orchestra also tours to other places in the winter or spring, usually within the state or to a nearby state. In the winter of 2010, the Youth Orchestra travelled to CarlsbadCarlsbad, New Mexico
Carlsbad is a city in and the county seat of Eddy County, New Mexico, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 26,138. Carlsbad is the center of the designated micropolitan area of Carlsbad-Artesia, which has a total population of 55,435...
and Clovis
Clovis, New Mexico
Clovis is the county seat of Curry County, New Mexico, United States. Its population was 32,667 at the 2000 census; according to 2010 Census Bureau estimates, the population had risen to 37,775....
, New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
. In the spring of 2011, AYO travelled to Pagosa Springs
Pagosa Springs, Colorado
Pagosa Springs is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat of, and the only incorporated municipality in, Archuleta County, Colorado, United States. The population was 1,591 at the 2000 census...
and Durango
Durango, Colorado
The City of Durango is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of La Plata County, Colorado, United States. The United States Census Bureau said that the city population was 16,887 in 2010 census.-History:...
, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
.
Albuquerque Junior Symphony
This is the middle school group with the most experience. In the 2009-2010 season, the program began to accept students in the 9th grade into this group. The Junior Symphony (AJS) contains students in grades 7-9. Though they do not tour to other places, they tour to two Albuquerque Public SchoolsAlbuquerque Public Schools
Albuquerque Public Schools is a school district based in Albuquerque, New Mexico.Founded in 1891, the Albuquerque Public School District is the largest of 89 public school districts in the State of New Mexico....
middle schools every year to perform for the students there. This group requires an audition with scales and a solo of the student's choice.
Albuquerque Junior Orchestra
The Albuquerque Junior Orchestra (AJO) is the second middle school full orchestra. It is similar to the Albuquerque Junior Symphony, but has less experienced musicians. Auditions similar to that of the Albuquerque Junior Symphony are required to be a part of the Albuquerque Junior Orchestra.Albuquerque Prelude String Orchestra
The Albuquerque Prelude String Instrument (APSO or simply PSO) is a middle school group composed only of string players (violin, viola, violoncello, and double bass). They are for the least experienced string players that audition for the Junior Symphony or Orchestra.Albuquerque Junior Youth Band
The Albuquerque Junior Youth Band's (AJYB's) auditions are separate from the Albuquerque Junior Symphony's. The Youth Band takes place only over two to three months, and is only for musicians who play woodwind instruments (flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, saxophone), brass instruments (trumpet, horn, trombone, tuba), and percussion instruments.Albuquerque Junior String Orchestra
Being the only elementary school group, the Albuquerque Junior String Orchestra (AJSO) does not require an audition. However, it does require a letter of recommendation from the student's teacher. It is only for students in grades 3-5 who play string instruments.Fundraisers
In order to fund the Albuquerque Youth Symphony program and the Youth Symphony's annual tour and capital campaign, the program uses two big fundraising events.Playathon
The Playathon is a fundraiser that takes place at Cottonwood Mall. All Albuquerque Youth Symphony groups perform for the shoppers there and collect money from different donors.Luminarias
A tradition of New Mexico, luminariasLuminárias
Luminárias is a Brazilian municipality located in the state of Minas Gerais. The city belongs to the mesoregion of Campo das Vertentes and to the microregion of Lavras.-See also:* List of municipalities in Minas Gerais...
are sold by the Albuquerque Youth Symphony to raise money for each individual musician to pay for their tour. Every year on a specific date, all members of the Albuquerque Youth Symphony get together at a workhouse and fill hundreds of luminarias to deliver to people in the greater Albuquerque area. This is the biggest fundraiser that the Youth Symphony program performs.