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The pursuit of excellence is transformative. We know the extraordinary impact the ESYO Experience has on our young musicians, their families and their communities, and we are committed to making this experience accessible to all aspiring youth regardless of their ability to pay. We are also committed to keeping tuition costs low despite ever-rising costs. In fact, tuition dollars account for only 20% of the actual expense. This is why we ask for your support. Your contribution ensures access to exceptional musical experiences for everyone--no matter their circumstances.

Each gift leads to a tangible benefit: a more educated student, a better musician, a young person more skilled in collaboration and cognizant of the importance of community. Your donation is a wise investment in an optimistic future. What do your dollars support? Tuition waivers and private lesson subsidies; participation fees for tours, workshops and festivals; instrument subsidies, just to list a few. We depend on the generosity of individual donors, corporate sponsors, and granting organizations for more than one third of our total operating budget each season--that translates to over a half million in fundraising every year!

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Supporting ESYO is an investment in...

The Creative Economy

The Creative Economy

Business thrives in communities that support a vibrant arts culture. ESYO provides high level performing opportunities for our region’s residents and serves as an enticement to people seeking to relocate. ESYO also employs dozens of professional artists as conductors, coaches, judges and teaching artists, enriching the lives of hundreds of young musicians from across the Capital District.

Young Leaders

Young Leaders

Research now shows us that the study of music develops neural connections that help foster creative thinking and cognitive skills that are instrumental for problem-solving. ESYO graduates demonstrate this with successful careers in a wide variety of fields–many becoming inspirational leaders paving the way to a brighter future for all.

Vibrant Communities

Vibrant Communities

Now in our 40th season, ESYO is highly regarded as one of the cultural gems in the Capital Region, annually providing over 30 public performances of live music from a variety of genres – classical, jazz, band, and contemporary percussion. We support the local music community through collaborations with schools and groups such as Albany Symphony Orchestra and Albany Pro Musica.  We invest in our communities by providing music education programs that use music as a tool for positive social change.

The Future of Music

The Future of Music

Many of ESYO graduates attend prestigious music schools such as The Juilliard School, Eastman School of Music, New England Conservatory, Oberlin Conservatory, and Manhattan School of Music. Others pursue non-music paths at colleges and universities such as Harvard, Princeton, Yale, MIT – yet they still make time for music. Our graduates can be found teaching in local schools, performing in small groups and community orchestras, running recording studios, composing music, and even performing in world-class orchestras.

Looking for Non Corporate Sponsors?

A Big Thank you to our Corporate Sponsors & Community Partners

And a big thanks to...

($20,000 and up!)

Carnegie Hall Weill Institute
Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation
New York State Council on the Arts
REA Charitable Trust

($10K - $19,999K)

Albany Medical Center
Bender Family Foundation
M&T Charitable Foundation
The McCarthy Charities
The Review Foundation
The Schenectady Foundation
Seymour Fox Memorial Foundation
The Times Union

($5K - $9,999)

El Sistema Presto Grant
Henry M. Butzel Family Foundation

($1K - $4,999)

AYCO
Berkshire Bank Foundation
Capital Bank, A Division of Chemung Canal Trust Company
Capital District Physicians’ Health Plan
Community Foundation of the Greater Capital Region:
Foy Fund
Little Red School House Fund
County of Schenectady
Curtis Lumber
Schenectady County Initiative Program
D’Addario Music Foundation
GE Foundation Matching Gifts Program
Price Chopper Golub Foundation
University at Albany Foundation
Stewart’s Foundation

($500 - $999)

Cengage Learning Matching Gifts Program
The Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region Paul & Alane Hohenberg Fund
The Foundation For Jewish Philanthropies
Global Foundries Matching Gifts Program
Pearl Grant Richmans
Prudential Matching Gifts Program
Takeda Pharmaceuticals Matching Gifts Program

+ Includes in-kind contributions
* The showcased sponsors logos above this section are recurrent or sizable sponsors/partners that have donated an upwards of $5,000.