New Jersey Youth Symphony
Encyclopedia
The New Jersey Youth Symphony (NJYS) is a non-profit organization based in Murray Hill, New Jersey
. Founded in 1979, the NJYS has grown to annually provide nearly 450 young instrumentalists from central New Jersey with outstanding music performance and educational experiences. There are three string ensembles, three full symphony orchestras, two flute ensembles, chamber music programs, music theory classes presented in accordance with the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music
(UK), a summer camp, and other various outreach activities. NJYS accepts string players from 3rd grade to 12th grade, and wind and percussion players from 6th grade to 12th grade. All students are accepted by competitive audition and then placed in an appropriate ensemble based on age and playing ability. For the 06-07 season more than 550 students auditioned.
(NJSO), the state's oldest and premier professional orchestra. The NJSO provided its Assistant Conductor, George Marriner Maull, to serve as Conductor of the NJYS. During the first year, Maestro Maull led a group of 65 high school-aged students, and in 1980 Maestro Maull was named Music Director of the NJYS. Within the family of NJYS ensembles this original group, still known as the Youth Symphony (YS), today boasts a roster of approximately 100 young musicians.
In 1980 the organization became an independent 501(c)(3) not for profit corporation. As the scope of the enterprise grew, the NJYS Board of Trustees hired Barbara Barstow to create new ensembles, the first of which was the Preparatory Orchestra, now known as the Youth Orchestra (YO). In 1983, she developed the Orchestral String Training Ensemble (OSTE) for younger string players who had not participated in an orchestra before.
Since that time, the organization has grown to include the ensembles and programs cited above. In 1997, George Marriner Maull resigned in order to devote more time to his other conducting post, the Philharmonic Orchestra of New Jersey, renamed to The Discovery Orchestra (TDO). In recognition of his 18-year tenure, Maestro Maull was named NJYS Conductor Laureate. He was succeeded first by conductor Adrian Bryttan and later by Paul Hostetter. The Youth Symphony is currently led by Maestro Ankush Kumar Bahl.
In 2001, Barbara Barstow was named Artistic Director of the New Jersey Youth Symphony, Inc., to guide and oversee the entire NJYS entity. At that time she also served as Conductor of Youth Orchestra, Junior Strings and the Orchestral String Training Ensemble. In the fall of 2007, Barstow announced her retirement from the organization in 2008.
NJYS is the only youth orchestra program in the New York metropolitan area that has its own permanent facility for orchestra and small ensemble rehearsals, as well as classroom spaces. The NJYS, Inc. has been administratively led by two Executive Directors: Linda Abrams (1984–2004) and presently Linda Onorevole.
Recipient of numerous accolades from the press, and Citations of Excellence from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, the Youth Symphony has mounted five European tours and performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and the New Jersey Performing Arts Center on a number of occasions over its twenty-six year history.
OSTE : Beginning String Ensemble for students in grades 3-5
Junior Strings : Secondary String Ensemble for students in grades 5-7
Sinfonia : Advanced String Ensemble for students in grades 5-8
Philharmonia : Beginning Full Orchestra for students in grades 6-9
Youth Orchestra : Full orchestra for students in grades 7-12
Youth Symphony : Advanced Full Orchestra for high school aged students
Flute Forum - For advanced flute players in grades 9-12
Flute Choir - For intermediate flute players in grades 6-9
Other Ensembles/Programs
Fall Chamber Music : For NJYS members in Sinfonia - Youth Symphony
Music Theory/Musicianship Training : Mandatory for kids in OSTE and Junior Strings
Summer Camp : For Middle School aged students either currently in NJYS or not in the organization who are accepted by audition
competitions
Mall in Elizabeth, New Jersey
with all of the 450 members of the organization. This light pops concert is the largest youth symphony performance in the world.
Murray Hill, New Jersey
Murray Hill is an unincorporated area within portions of both Berkeley Heights and New Providence, located in Union County in northern New Jersey, United States....
. Founded in 1979, the NJYS has grown to annually provide nearly 450 young instrumentalists from central New Jersey with outstanding music performance and educational experiences. There are three string ensembles, three full symphony orchestras, two flute ensembles, chamber music programs, music theory classes presented in accordance with the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music
Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music
ABRSM is an internationally recognised educational body and charity that provides examinations in music The organisation, based in London, UK, runs exams in centres all over the world...
(UK), a summer camp, and other various outreach activities. NJYS accepts string players from 3rd grade to 12th grade, and wind and percussion players from 6th grade to 12th grade. All students are accepted by competitive audition and then placed in an appropriate ensemble based on age and playing ability. For the 06-07 season more than 550 students auditioned.
History
The New Jersey Youth Symphony was founded by Jane Donnelly, Anne Shuhan, other interested central New Jersey parents and the administration of the New Jersey Symphony OrchestraNew Jersey Symphony Orchestra
The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra is a symphony orchestra located in the state of New Jersey, United States. Philip James founded the orchestra in 1922. The orchestra is headquartered in Newark, New Jersey. Neeme Järvi, the NJSO's music director from 2005 to 2009, is currently the orchestra's...
(NJSO), the state's oldest and premier professional orchestra. The NJSO provided its Assistant Conductor, George Marriner Maull, to serve as Conductor of the NJYS. During the first year, Maestro Maull led a group of 65 high school-aged students, and in 1980 Maestro Maull was named Music Director of the NJYS. Within the family of NJYS ensembles this original group, still known as the Youth Symphony (YS), today boasts a roster of approximately 100 young musicians.
In 1980 the organization became an independent 501(c)(3) not for profit corporation. As the scope of the enterprise grew, the NJYS Board of Trustees hired Barbara Barstow to create new ensembles, the first of which was the Preparatory Orchestra, now known as the Youth Orchestra (YO). In 1983, she developed the Orchestral String Training Ensemble (OSTE) for younger string players who had not participated in an orchestra before.
Since that time, the organization has grown to include the ensembles and programs cited above. In 1997, George Marriner Maull resigned in order to devote more time to his other conducting post, the Philharmonic Orchestra of New Jersey, renamed to The Discovery Orchestra (TDO). In recognition of his 18-year tenure, Maestro Maull was named NJYS Conductor Laureate. He was succeeded first by conductor Adrian Bryttan and later by Paul Hostetter. The Youth Symphony is currently led by Maestro Ankush Kumar Bahl.
In 2001, Barbara Barstow was named Artistic Director of the New Jersey Youth Symphony, Inc., to guide and oversee the entire NJYS entity. At that time she also served as Conductor of Youth Orchestra, Junior Strings and the Orchestral String Training Ensemble. In the fall of 2007, Barstow announced her retirement from the organization in 2008.
NJYS is the only youth orchestra program in the New York metropolitan area that has its own permanent facility for orchestra and small ensemble rehearsals, as well as classroom spaces. The NJYS, Inc. has been administratively led by two Executive Directors: Linda Abrams (1984–2004) and presently Linda Onorevole.
Recipient of numerous accolades from the press, and Citations of Excellence from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, the Youth Symphony has mounted five European tours and performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and the New Jersey Performing Arts Center on a number of occasions over its twenty-six year history.
Ensembles
Below are the list of current ensembles of the New Jersey Youth Symphony in order of youngest - oldest:OSTE : Beginning String Ensemble for students in grades 3-5
- Conducted by Kristi L. Gaspari
- Routinely performs at Madison Junior School in Madison, NJ
Junior Strings : Secondary String Ensemble for students in grades 5-7
- Conducted by Kristi L. Gaspari
- Routinely performs at Madison Junior School in Madison, NJ
Sinfonia : Advanced String Ensemble for students in grades 5-8
- Conducted by Cynthia Longley
- Routinely performs at Madison Junior School in Madison, NJ
- Presents outreach concerts at various nursing homes and schools
Philharmonia : Beginning Full Orchestra for students in grades 6-9
- Conducted by Mark Gunderman
- Routinely performs at Morristown High SchoolMorristown High SchoolMorristown High School is a four-year public high school serving students in grades 9 - 12 from three communities in Morris County, New Jersey, United States, operating as part of the Morris School District...
in Morristown, NJ
Youth Orchestra : Full orchestra for students in grades 7-12
- Conducted by Simon Lipskar
- Routinely performs at Morristown High School in Morristown, NJ and larger auditoriums
Youth Symphony : Advanced Full Orchestra for high school aged students
- Conducted by Jeffrey Grogan
- Routinely performs at Rutgers UniversityRutgers UniversityRutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
, Bergen PAC, NJPAC and Carnegie HallCarnegie HallCarnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
Flute Forum - For advanced flute players in grades 9-12
- Conducted by Diana C. Reilly
Flute Choir - For intermediate flute players in grades 6-9
- Conducted by Diana C. Reilly
- Routinely performs with Sinfonia
Other Ensembles/Programs
Fall Chamber Music : For NJYS members in Sinfonia - Youth Symphony
- Sunday rehearsals during fall
- Performs at NJYS Music Center, Master Class Programs, Local chamber programs, nursing homes, schools, and other venues
Music Theory/Musicianship Training : Mandatory for kids in OSTE and Junior Strings
- Optional for kids in Sinfonia - Youth Symphony
- In accordance with the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (UK):
Summer Camp : For Middle School aged students either currently in NJYS or not in the organization who are accepted by audition
- 10½ days of intense study all day
- Programs : Camp Orchestra, Chamber Orchestras, Chamber Ensembles, Private Lessons, Camp Choir, Tennis, and fun
competitions
- 2 Performances - Chamber Music and Full Concert
Play-a-thon
Every year, the orchestra holds a fundraiser performance at the Jersey GardensJersey Gardens
Jersey Gardens is a two-level indoor outlet mall in Elizabeth, New Jersey. The mall opened on October 21, 1999, and is the largest outlet mall in New Jersey, and much closer to New York City than its largest outlet mall competitor, Woodbury Common....
Mall in Elizabeth, New Jersey
Elizabeth, New Jersey
Elizabeth is a city in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 124,969, retaining its ranking as New Jersey's fourth largest city with an increase of 4,401 residents from its 2000 Census population of 120,568...
with all of the 450 members of the organization. This light pops concert is the largest youth symphony performance in the world.