Minnesota Youth Symphonies
Encyclopedia
Minnesota Youth Symphonies, commonly referred to as MYS, was founded in 1972. The program has four orchestras composed of elementary through high school aged musicians. Participation is based on an audition in which the prospective student must perform an appropriate solo, orchestral excerpt, major and minor scales, and sightread. Unlike many other programs, MYS places each student into an orchestra based entirely on his or her skill level, rather than age. The String Orchestra, composed only of stringed instruments, is conducted by Pat Kelly, and is geared for string students at the intermediate level. The Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Minnesota Orchestra Education Director Jim Bartsch, is a full orchestra for music students at the advanced-intermediate level. The Repertory Orchestra, conducted by MYS Co-Artistic Director Claudette Laureano, is offered for advanced students. The highest-level orchestra, the Symphony Orchestra, is conducted by MYS Co-Artistic Director Manny Laureano
, and is a collegiate-level full orchestra. The orchestras perform three times annually at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis for an aggregate yearly audience of more than 5,000 patrons.
Student musicians throughout Minnesota
and western Wisconsin
audition
annually for a position in one of the four orchestras, which meet most Saturday mornings for two to three-hour rehearsals from mid-September to early May. MYS also hosts an annual summer program in July, comprising a composition class, an advanced beginner string orchestra group with Pat Kelly, and a conductor's workshop with Manny Laureano.
MYS has been under the artistic direction of Manny Laureano
, Principal Trumpet of the Minnesota Orchestra
, and his wife, Claudette Laureano, Director of the Breck School's
String Program, since 1988. Together, they’ve grown MYS from one orchestra of 58 students to four orchestras, a summer program and community outreach programs serving over 600 students.
Several alumni of the Minnesota Youth Symphonies program hold positions with professional orchestras such as the Cleveland Orchestra
, Minnesota Orchestra
, and St. Paul Chamber Orchestra.
The students’ hard work earned them an invitation in 1973 to perform in Romania, making MYS the first American youth orchestra to tour in a communist country. In 1992, the MYS Symphony Orchestra became the first orchestra to ever perform in the Super Bowl’s half-time show when Super Bowl XXVI
was played at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
in Minneapolis. MYS worked with one of the most distinguished film composers of the 20th century when Elmer Bernstein guest-conducted “The Magnificent Seven” with the MYS Philharmonic Orchestra in 1997. MYS has collaborated with many noted guest artists, conductors and performing groups including Minnesota Orchestra
Music Director Osmo Vanska
, Butch Thompson, Charles Lazarus, Jorja Fleezanis, Bel Canto Chorus, St. Paul City Ballet, Minnesota Boys Choir, Ignacio "Nachito" Herrera, and the T.C. Swing Dancers.
The 2007-2008 season was particularly notable, as it marked the 35th Anniversary of MYS as well as the 20th Anniversary of Co-Artistic Directors Claudette and Manny Laureano. In honor of these events, each of the Minnesota Youth Symphonies’ four orchestras premiered original works by Minnesotan composers. Full orchestral pieces were commissioned from composers Stephen Paulus
, Shelley Hanson and MYS alumnus Edward (Teddy) Niedermaier
. To select the fourth work, MYS held a composition competition open to MYS students and alumni under the age of 21. Aaron Hirsch, of Sleepy Eye
, Minnesota won this contest with his composition for string orchestra.
Manny Laureano
Manny Laureano is the Principal Trumpet of the Minnesota Orchestra, as well as the Co-Artistic Director of the Minnesota Youth Symphonies. Laureano began his musical studies in the New York City public school system and received his Bachelor of Music Degree from the Juilliard School in 1977...
, and is a collegiate-level full orchestra. The orchestras perform three times annually at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis for an aggregate yearly audience of more than 5,000 patrons.
Student musicians throughout Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
and western Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
audition
Audition
An audition is a sample performance by an actor, singer, musician, dancer or other performing artist.Audition may also refer to:* The sense of hearing* Adobe Audition, audio editing software...
annually for a position in one of the four orchestras, which meet most Saturday mornings for two to three-hour rehearsals from mid-September to early May. MYS also hosts an annual summer program in July, comprising a composition class, an advanced beginner string orchestra group with Pat Kelly, and a conductor's workshop with Manny Laureano.
MYS has been under the artistic direction of Manny Laureano
Manny Laureano
Manny Laureano is the Principal Trumpet of the Minnesota Orchestra, as well as the Co-Artistic Director of the Minnesota Youth Symphonies. Laureano began his musical studies in the New York City public school system and received his Bachelor of Music Degree from the Juilliard School in 1977...
, Principal Trumpet of the Minnesota Orchestra
Minnesota Orchestra
The Minnesota Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.Emil Oberhoffer founded the orchestra as the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra in 1903, and it gave its first performance on November 5 of that year. In 1968 the orchestra changed to its name to the Minnesota Orchestra...
, and his wife, Claudette Laureano, Director of the Breck School's
Breck School
Breck School is an independent college-preparatory preK–12 school in Golden Valley, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis. It was founded in 1886 and is affiliated with the Episcopal Church...
String Program, since 1988. Together, they’ve grown MYS from one orchestra of 58 students to four orchestras, a summer program and community outreach programs serving over 600 students.
Several alumni of the Minnesota Youth Symphonies program hold positions with professional orchestras such as the Cleveland Orchestra
Cleveland Orchestra
The Cleveland Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Cleveland, Ohio. It is one of the five American orchestras informally referred to as the "Big Five". Founded in 1918, the orchestra plays most of its concerts at Severance Hall...
, Minnesota Orchestra
Minnesota Orchestra
The Minnesota Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.Emil Oberhoffer founded the orchestra as the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra in 1903, and it gave its first performance on November 5 of that year. In 1968 the orchestra changed to its name to the Minnesota Orchestra...
, and St. Paul Chamber Orchestra.
History
In 1972 the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra Society ended its sponsorship of the St. Paul Youth Orchestra. Many of the youth orchestra musicians and their parents were determined to continue the program. They persuaded its music director, Ralph Winkler, to establish a new youth orchestra, the Minnesota Youth Symphony. MYS was established as a place for serious young musicians to learn and be challenged.The students’ hard work earned them an invitation in 1973 to perform in Romania, making MYS the first American youth orchestra to tour in a communist country. In 1992, the MYS Symphony Orchestra became the first orchestra to ever perform in the Super Bowl’s half-time show when Super Bowl XXVI
Super Bowl XXVI
Super Bowl XXVI was an American football game played on January 26, 1992 at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota to decide the National Football League champion following the 1991 regular season...
was played at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
The Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, commonly called the Metrodome, is a domed sports stadium in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. Opened in 1982, it replaced Metropolitan Stadium, which was on the current site of the Mall of America in Bloomington and Memorial Stadium on the University...
in Minneapolis. MYS worked with one of the most distinguished film composers of the 20th century when Elmer Bernstein guest-conducted “The Magnificent Seven” with the MYS Philharmonic Orchestra in 1997. MYS has collaborated with many noted guest artists, conductors and performing groups including Minnesota Orchestra
Minnesota Orchestra
The Minnesota Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.Emil Oberhoffer founded the orchestra as the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra in 1903, and it gave its first performance on November 5 of that year. In 1968 the orchestra changed to its name to the Minnesota Orchestra...
Music Director Osmo Vanska
Osmo Vänskä
Osmo Antero Vänskä is a Finnish conductor, clarinetist and composer.He started his musical career as an orchestral clarinetist with the Turku Philharmonic . He then became the principal clarinet of the Helsinki Philharmonic from 1977 to 1982...
, Butch Thompson, Charles Lazarus, Jorja Fleezanis, Bel Canto Chorus, St. Paul City Ballet, Minnesota Boys Choir, Ignacio "Nachito" Herrera, and the T.C. Swing Dancers.
The 2007-2008 season was particularly notable, as it marked the 35th Anniversary of MYS as well as the 20th Anniversary of Co-Artistic Directors Claudette and Manny Laureano. In honor of these events, each of the Minnesota Youth Symphonies’ four orchestras premiered original works by Minnesotan composers. Full orchestral pieces were commissioned from composers Stephen Paulus
Stephen Paulus
Stephen Paulus is an American composer, best known for his operas and choral music. His best-known piece is his 1982 opera The Postman Always Rings Twice, one of several operas he has written for the Opera Theatre of St. Louis, which prompted The New York Times to call him "a young man on the road...
, Shelley Hanson and MYS alumnus Edward (Teddy) Niedermaier
Teddy Niedermaier
Edward "Teddy" Niedermaier is an American composer and his music has been performed throughout the United States and in France, Germany, South Korea, Kosovo, Moldova, and Japan.-Biography:...
. To select the fourth work, MYS held a composition competition open to MYS students and alumni under the age of 21. Aaron Hirsch, of Sleepy Eye
Sleepy Eye, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,515 people, 1,479 households, and 942 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,099.9 people per square mile . There were 1,591 housing units at an average density of 950.5 per square mile...
, Minnesota won this contest with his composition for string orchestra.
External links
- Minnesota Youth Symphonies
- http://photo.twincities.com/index.php/2007/11/08/minnesota-youth-symphonies-audio/
- http://www.mspmag.com/entertainment/people/83930.asp
- http://www.kare11.com/life/community/schools/academic/academic_article.aspx?storyid=241957
- https://secure.forumcomm.com/stillwater/articles/index.cfm?page=purchase&id=9583&user_id=462506&CFID=21601668&CFTOKEN=44864508&jsessionid=8830e2feea3a17070253