Conductor:Keith Prey
Membership: 18+
Auditions: Early June
Rehearsals: Weekly on Thursday evenings
NYSSMA Level: Generally 3-5

ESYO Repertory Jazz Orchestra is a uniquely flexible and dynamic jazz orchestra experience for intermediate musicians interested in exploring jazz.  Open to most instruments, including string instruments and other orchestra instruments not typically found in a jazz ensemble, Repertory Jazz Orchestra explores a dynamic range of repertoire from early swing to bebop, funk, and contemporary jazz.  Music selection focuses on introducing musicians to jazz, a uniquely American art form while learning improvisation and the musical skills and techniques found in all forms of jazz.

The Repertory Jazz Orchestra frequently performs on local and regional stages and occasionally commissions new work.  Recent commissions include “Walk Like the Guv” by jazz trombonist Michael Davis.

Conductor:Peter Bellino
Membership: 18+
Auditions: Early June
Rehearsals: Weekly on Monday evenings
NYSSMA Level: Generally 5-6

The flagship Youth Jazz Orchestra is ESYO’s most advanced Jazz ensemble. The Jazz Orchestra is composed of jazz musicians whose technical skills, improvisation experience, and musicality are at the highest levels.

The 18-member “big band” style orchestra performs a wide range of music from jazz standards to the early swing of the roaring 20s to the exciting jazz/rock fusion of the 1980s  to today’s contemporary jazz. The jazz orchestra routinely performs in area jazz clubs and on regional and national stages.  Recent collaborations include premiere performances with the Albany Symphony, the Eastman Jazz Ensemble, “Blue” Lou Marini and Allen Vizzutti, Grammy-award winning pianist/composer Bill Cunliffe, and Trumpeter Michael Rodriquez.