THREE NYC AREA MUSICIANS SELECTED BY CARNEGIE HALL FOR FIRST-EVER NATIONAL YOUTH ORCHESTRA

Carnegie Hall selected 120 exceptional young musicians from across the U.S., including three from the New York metro area, for its first-ever National Youth Orchestra.

Carnegie Hall announced on March 4 the names of the 120 exceptional young musicians from across America, including three from the New York metro area, who have been specially selected to come together from June 30 to July 23, 2013 to create the first-ever National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America.

Hailing from 42 U.S. states, these young orchestral players, ages 16-19, have been recognized by Carnegie Hall as being among the finest in the country following a comprehensive audition process. To represent New York are: Robert Donowick (viola) of West Seneca; Jacob Efthimiou (cello) of Delhi; Emma Frucht (violin) of New York; Jarrett Grempel (bassoon) of Wantagh; Martine Thomas (viola) of Rochester; and Kevin Yu (violin) of Albertson.

The musicians of the first National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America will travel to New York in late June 2013 for a rigorous 2-week training residency on the campus of Purchase College, State University of New York, working with some of the country’s best professional orchestral players. The young musicians will then have the opportunity to represent their country as the NYO-USA undertakes its inaugural international tour with stops at Washington, D.C.’s Kennedy Center, followed by dates in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and London.

Internationally-renowned conductor Valery Gergiev will lead the NYO-USA in its first year, with the ensemble joined this summer by acclaimed violinist Joshua Bell as soloist. The orchestra’s concert program will include Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto, Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 10 in E Minor, and a new work by young American composer Sean Shepherd, co-commissioned by Carnegie Hall especially for NYO-USA. Specific tour dates and venues for all cities will be announced in late spring 2013.

“We have been thrilled at the response to our creation of the NYO-USA program,” said Clive Gillinson, executive and artistic director of Carnegie Hall. “We are very excited, but not surprised that there is such a depth of world class talent among young musicians across the United States, and we know this first roster will be wonderfully strong. With the energy and skill demonstrated by these young players, we fully expect that the music-making of this orchestra will be completely inspirational for participants and audiences alike.”