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News & Concerts

News & Happenings at ESYO

Sign Up For ESYO's 2024 Summer Sessions

21 February 2024
Meet up with other ESYO musicians and make new friends before rehearsals begin with ESYO's summer sessions. At ESYO's Summer Sessions, you'll study your instrument with professional chamber musicia...

Exploring Music as the Soul's Breath

21 February 2024
Exploring Music as the Soul's Breath: How Making Music Supports Our Well-being. It's poetic to understand music as the breath of the spirit. The ar...

FIDDLE ENSEMBLE

07 February 2024
FIDDLE ENSEMBLE Open to members of the Symphony Orchestra, Repertory Orchestra, String Orchestra, and new members by Audition.  Designed and open to members of Symphony Orchestra, Repertory Orc...

CHIME Expands Access with Support from Schenectady City School District

01 February 2024
CHIME Expands Access with help from Schenectady City School District This past fall, elementary students from across the Schenectady City School ...

ESYO Young Leaders Delve into the 6C's of Positive Youth Development

31 January 2024
ESYO Young Leaders Delve into the 6C's of Positive Youth Development Empire State Youth Orchestra (ESYO) is dedicated to empowering young musicians to becom...

Empire State Youth Orchestra Enjoys Boost from Regional, State, and National Grants

31 January 2024
Empire State Youth Orchestra Enjoys Boost from Regional, State, and National Grants Annual support from across the region, state and nation provides critical fuel...

Downbeat | October 2023

16 October 2023
ESYO Delves into the unifying Power of Breath This season, ESYO musicians at all levels, from Concertino Strings to Wind Orchestra and Symphony Orchestra, will explore more than the lush harmonies,...

ESYO Announces the Young People’s Concert (YPC) and Seniors’ Concert

14 September 2023
Young People’s Concert (YPC) and Seniors’ Concert October 18, 2023 YPC 10:30am | Senior's 1:00pm Proctors ...

Announcing Our New Artistic Staff!

23 June 2023
Announcing ESYO's New Artistic Staff Three new ESYO conductors join the Artistic Team this summer We are thrilled to announce three new ESYO conduc...

Congratulations to the ESYO Class of 2023!

21 June 2023
Congratulations to the ESYO Class of 2023! We are so proud of all you have accomplished, and can't wait to learn where your passions take you next! ...

ESYO Awarded $3.5 Million by New York State Council on the Arts for Center for Musical Youth

14 June 2023
ESYO Awarded $3.5 Million by New York State Council on the Arts for Center for Musical Youth The grant is part of a record large capital project funding announcem...

ESYO Young Leaders’ End-of-Year Projects Celebrate the Musical Community

09 June 2023
ESYO Young Leaders’ End-of-Year Projects Celebrate the Musical Community Free, public performances and videos are some of the projects created and coordinated by ...

CHIME Students Perform Original Composition in World Premiere Performance

26 May 2023
CHIME Students Perform Original Composition in World-Premiere Performance "The Power of Hope" made its debut on May 19 at Schenectady High School S...

ESYO returns to Carnegie Hall for first time since 2017

26 May 2023
ESYO Symphony Orchestra Returns to Carnegie Hall for First Time Since 2017 More summer fun to look forward to after ESYO season closes in June Sche...

Sign Up For ESYO's Summer Sessions

28 April 2023
Meet up with other ESYO musicians and make new friends before rehearsals begin with ESYO's summer sessions. At ESYO's Summer Sessions, you'll study your instrument with professional chamber musicia...

ESYO Names Two Winners of Concerto Competition in Historic Judging

08 March 2023
ESYO Names Two Winners of Concerto Competition in Historic Judging The winners will perform during the ensemble’s concerts in April and October, respectively ...

CHIME students amplify their voices with composer Adrian Gordon for student-led composition

08 March 2023
CHIME students amplify their voices with composer Adrian Gordon for student-led composition Through the Amplify Our Voice initiative, students learn to process em...

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Orchestra and ESYO Join Forces to Present Music:Eyes – See What You Hear

26 January 2023
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Orchestra and Empire State Youth Orchestra Join Forces to Present Music:Eyes – See What You Hear Symphony Orchestra will partner ...

ESYO hosts its first String Day

24 January 2023
ESYO's First String Day A Success ESYO hosted masterclasses and workshops focusing on string instruments on January 14, 2023 For the first time in ...

Making Friends by Borrowing Pencils: Guest Post by Liam Sullivan

24 January 2023
Making Friends by Borrowing Pencils: Guest post by Liam Sullivan "'Never forget your pencil,' I was warned, 'or you will die in rehearsal.'" I’ve b...

ESYO Receives Van Norton Family Foundation's First-Ever Grant Gift

20 January 2023
ESYO Receives Van Norton Family Foundation's First-Ever Grant Gift This gift will support CHIME and the Amplify Our Voice initiative January 20, 20...

Playathon, Free Seniors' Concert & more return this March

18 January 2023
Playathon, Free Seniors' Concert & more return this March ESYO concert classics planned for spring concert schedule Empire State Youth Orchestra’s ...

ESYO Members Perform at NYS Inauguration Gala

05 January 2023
ESYO Members Perform at NYS Inauguration Gala Two string quartets alternated during the afternoon of music on New Year's Day We were thrilled when ...

International Artists Come to Teach ESYO Students

21 November 2022
International Artists Come to Teach ESYO Students Recent guests have included Thalea String Quartet and Adrian Gordon ESYO students always get worl...

ESYO Awarded $10,000 in Recovery Funding from the New York State Council on the Arts

07 November 2022
ESYO Awarded $10,000 in Recovery Funding from the New York State Council on the Arts NYSCA is providing nearly 1000 organizations with over $13 million in recover...

CHIME Students explore nontraditional music making with composer Gabriel Prokofiev

28 October 2022
CHIME Students explore nontraditional music making with composer Gabriel Prokofiev Prokofiev and music director Etienne Abelin perform for Proctors CHIME students ...

Congressman Tonko visits site of ESYO’s Center for Musical Youth

14 October 2022
Congressman Tonko visits site of ESYO’s Center for Musical Youth Rep. Tonko touring Capital District projects that benefitted from federal funding Congressman Paul D. Tonko joined members of the E...

ESYO Receives Vital Support from Several Foundations

26 September 2022
ESYO Recieves Vital Support from Local, Regional, and National Foundations ESYO has received $68,500 in grant support from 4 local foundations ESYO...

ESYO’S 2022-2023 Season Begins with a Sprinkle of Something New!

21 September 2022
ESYO’S 2022-2023 SEASON BEGINS WITH A SPRINKLE OF SOMETHING NEW! Empire State Youth Orchestra Explores New Ways of Teaching, Learning, and Performing While Giving Fresh Takes on Classical Masterwo...

A Season of Gratitude | 2021-2022 Year In Review

16 September 2022
A season of gratitude best describes the 2021-2022 season. As we reflect back on the many accomplishments of our youth, we feel deep gratitude for our friends, families, and contributors. Despite...

ESYO Explores Soundpainting with the Launch of MusicNOW!

14 September 2022
ESYO musicians returned to the rehearsal room this month for the start of what will be an exciting season of adventurous music-making. The new season also brings something brand new: MusicNOW! ...

Melodies of Christmas is Back!

13 September 2022
AUDITION BEGIN SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24 The excitement is building around the grand return of CBS Albany's Melodies of Christmas! After the COVID-19 pandemic paused the annual benefit concert, the...

Fall Auditions Now Open!

09 September 2022
It's Not To Late To Join ESYO for the New Season! Back to school also means back to rehearsals for ESYO's young musicians. It is easy to see that each musician is excited to return to making mus...

New School Year Brings New Hopes, New Goals, & New Opportunities

07 September 2022
Today, students and teachers across the Capital Region and upstate New York head back to school. The new school year brings with it new hopes, new goals, and new opportunities to grow. For many y...

ESYO CHIME PERFORMS STAND TALL AT CARNEGIE HALL

15 August 2022
Carnegie Hall's PlayUSA foundation, which funded the creative learning project, invited ESYO CHIME to present its composition at its national convening. On Tuesday, June 28, 2022, a small chambe...

ESYO Receives Transformative $1.5 Million Grant from Schenectady County

10 August 2022
Schenectady County Legislature unanimously voted to approve a resolution providing $1.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding to ESYO for New Home On Tuesday, August 9, 2022, ESYO's vision ...

ESYO Rewind! Symphony Orchestra Premieres Concerto for DJ/Electronics and Cello

03 August 2022
A Look Back at the Premiere of Fabrizio Cassol's Concerto for Cello and DJ/Electronics On Sunday, June 12, 2022, at Tanglewood's iconic Seiji Ozawa Hall in Lenox, M...

Young Musicians Turn Dissonant Challenges into Creative Opportunities

01 August 2022
Last month, we celebrated our third class of graduating ESYO seniors since the global COVID-19 pandemic upended rehearsals and paused live performances during ESYO's 40th Birthday season. Looking...

ESYO Welcomes New Board Members

25 July 2022
At its annual meeting this summer, the Empire State Youth Orchestra Board of Directors welcomed a new slate of board members who will contribute their time, talents, and experience to the orchest...

EMPIRE STATE YOUTH ORCHESTRA PERFORMERS AT CDSWOY AWARDS GALA

20 July 2022
EMPIRE STATE YOUTH ORCHESTRA PERFORMERS AT CAPITAL DISTRICT SPORTS WOMEN OF THE YEAR AWARDS GALA Members of the acclaimed Empire State Youth Orchestra will perform at the Capital District Sports...

Sign Up For ESYO's Summer Sessions

12 July 2022
Meet up with other ESYO musicians and make new friends before rehearsals begin with ESYO's summer sessions. At ESYO's Summer Sessions, you'll study your instrument with professional chamber music...

ESYO Seniors Recognized for Outstanding Service & Leadership in School Music Programs

24 June 2022
ESYO musicians take what they learn from ESYO and bring it back to their high school music program. Many grow to become leaders in their school music programs. Congratulations to the ESYO Class o...

First-ever ESYO CHIME Alumni Look Back on Experience

23 June 2022
  Guided by the vision that music uplifts and enriches the community, ESYO created the CHIME program in 2015. Since the beginning, the program has inspired hundreds of young musicians from Schen...

Concert Review: The Season Ending Performance by this Wonderful Ensemble

15 June 2022
I was compelled to relate my activity on Sunday last when I attended a concert at Ozawa Hall at Tanglewood by ESYO, the Empire State Youth Orchestra.  This was the season ending performance by th...

ESYO French Horn Player Awarded the 2022 Barry Richman Careers in Music Scholarship

13 June 2022
Each spring ESYO awards an outstanding senior the Barry Richman Careers in Music Scholarship.  Named in honor of ESYO Co-founder, current board member, and...

Two Graduating Seniors Awarded ESYO's Helen Cha-Pyo Baton Award

13 June 2022
The Helen Cha-Pyo Baton Award is presented each spring to a senior who embodies the passionate commitment of former Music Director, Helen Cha-Pyo, to music as a means to uplift and enrich the com...

Thank You Board Co-Chair's Kurt Bratten and Patty Michaelson

28 March 2022
Thank You Patty Michaelson and Kurt Bratten This month, we bid farewell to ESYO Board of Directors Co-Chairs Kurt Bratten and Patty Michaelson. We greatly appreciate their leadership as well as th...

ESYO CHIME to Premiere New Work on Resiliency

28 March 2022
Last month, ESYO CHIME embarked on a new music project with contemporary composer and RPI Professor of Music Chris Fisher-Lochead. Funded by Carnegie Hall Weill Music Institute's PlayUSA initiat...

ESYO Celebrates the Magic of a School Concert

28 March 2022
March is Music In Our Schools Month, a time to celebrate school music programs and the dedicated school music teachers that set the stage for many of the area's great musicians. Magic happens at ...

Playathon is Back! ESYO Musicians Share Their Love of Music at Crossgates Mall for the First Time Since the Start of the COVID-19 Pandemic

22 March 2022
Playathon is Back! ESYO Musicians Share Their love of Music at Crossgates Mall for the First Time Since the Start of the COVID-19 Pandemic Hundreds of Young Musicians Perform a Musical Marathon ...

Spirit of Innovation, Fresh Perspectives, and Belonging Top List of Priorities For New ESYO Music Director

08 March 2022
Spirit of Innovation, Fresh Perspectives, and Belonging Top List of Priorities For New ESYO Music Director Renowned Conductor, Violinist and Creative Entrepreneur Etienne Abelin To Serve as the ...

A Tale of Two Cellos. First Chair Partners Take Top Spots in ESYO Concerto Competition

03 February 2022
Empire State Youth Orchestra (ESYO), known regionally and nationally for nurturing the next generation of creative leaders and performers, today announced that ESYO cellist and Niskayuna High Scho...

ESYO CHIME Embark on a Reflective Composition Project with Local Composer

02 February 2022
Challenges and adversity are parts of everyday life, and our experiences shape us as individuals and as a community.  How we bounce back and overcome day-to-day struggles changes us and de...

Benefits of Sounding Together in Concertino Woodwind, Brass, & Percussion

01 February 2022
 Playing a musical instrument challenges young people's minds and bodies and ignites their creativity. Playing a musical instrument creates new pathways of thinking and learning. But sound...

Merz Trio & the American Patchwork Quartet Stop by ESYO to Inspire the Next Generation

31 January 2022
Music nourishes the lives of young people, and the joyful pursuit of musical excellence leads young musicians on a journey to self-discovery and creative collaborations. Empire State Youth Or...

ESYO Young Leaders Program Ignites the Passions of Young Musicians

08 January 2022
Igniting Passion, Nurturing Development, and Cultivating Leadership ESYO welcomes twenty-four young leaders & mentors to the ESYO Young Leader Program Musicians are well suited for ...

ESYO Rewind! Sleigh Ride Holiday Spectacular

23 December 2021
A Look Back at ESYO's First-ever Holiday Spectacular On Sunday, December 19, 2021, at Proctors Theatre, the Empire State Youth Orchestra's Symphony, Youth Jazz, and Chamber Orchestras t...

The Art of Listening

24 November 2021
Tips to Help You Master the Art of Listening If we've learned anything about music over the last two years, it is the power of live music. Whether listening to a masterful piece by one of th...

ESYO Rewind! 2021-2022 Opening Weekend

16 November 2021
A Look Back at ESYO's 2021-2022 Opening Weekend After nearly two years since their last performance for a live audience, ESYO Symphony Orchestra returned to the Troy Savings Bank Music Hal...

ESYO Musician Flies to L.A. for YOLA National Symposium

16 November 2021
Jay-Era Each year, young musicians from across the country convene in Los Angeles for the YOLA National Festival and again for the YOLA National Institute. Hosted by Maestro Gustavo Dudame...

Empire State Youth Orchestra Takes a Magic Sleigh Ride with Local Author & Madison VanDenburg

16 November 2021
ESYO Unwraps New Orchestral Arrangement of Madison VanDenburg’s new single “The Light of Christmas” at ESYO’s Holiday Spectacular. Empire State Youth Orchestra, known regionally and nationally...

2020-2021 ESYO Year-In-Review

27 October 2021
Zooming, hybrid, click-tracks, PPE, social distancing, MERV 13 filtration, “quilted” performances - all words that have come to define our 2020-2021 season.  

Sing Joyfully with ESYO Chorale, Audition Today!

07 October 2021
Auditions take place June 18-19 at Helderberg Reformed Church In Guilderland Center What is ESYO Chorale? ESYO's Concert Chorale is an after-school choral ensemble for high school musicians that ...

A Sneak Peak at the 2021-2022 Fall Concert Series

07 October 2021
ESYO's Fall line-up of concerts illuminates the once darkened stage as Audiences Return ESYO's Fall line-up of concerts illuminates the once darkened stage and brings a triumphant tone to th...

The Legend of the Ghost Light

07 October 2021
The "Ghost Light" Shines in Theatres and Concert Hall's Across the Country In almost every concert hall and theatre across the globe stands a single light, an illuminating beacon piercing th...

ESYO Musicians Need Your Support

07 October 2021
ESYO returned with great excitement to regular rehearsals and live performances. But we are seeing a tremendous need for more focus on the individual, with more attention to sectionals and coac...

You Can Find an ESYO Musician Onstage at School

06 October 2021
ONSTAGE WITH ESYO & ON STAGE AT SCHOOL You can find ESYO musicians in school auditoriums across the region A life-long love of music and the joyful pursuit of music begins at scho...

The Power of an ESYO Sponsor and Program Book Underwriter

06 October 2021
THE POWER OF AN ESYO CONCERT SPONSOR & PROGRAM BOOK UNDERWRITER - THEY MAKE MUSIC HAPPEN! The Empire State Youth Orchestra provides young musicians in the region with an essential ...

Back to School Means Back to Rehearsals for ESYO's Musical Youth

06 October 2021
September Means Back to School and Back to Rehearsals for ESYO's Musical Youth After more than a year and a half of playing 6ft apart at Proctors and in separate smaller ensembles, thi...

ESYO Symphony Orchestra Welcomes Guest Conductor Andrés Rivas

18 August 2021
ESYO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA WELCOMES GUEST CONDUCTOR ANDRÉS RIVAS The Empire State Youth Orchestra is excited to welcome conductor Andrés Rivas to the podium as guest conductor for ESYO Sy...

Two Prominent Local Jazz Artists Take the Podium with ESYO Jazz

17 August 2021
TWO PROMINENT LOCAL JAZZ ARTISTS TAKE TO PODIUM WITH ESYO JAZZ For over two decades, ESYO set young musicians on a course to discover Jazz, a truly unique and all-American artform. From Jazz s...

ESYO to Make Investments in Young Musicians with Federal Assistance and Donor Support

16 August 2021
ESYO Receives Federal Assistance Through the Small Business Administration's Shuttered Venue Operators Grant Empire State Youth Orchestra is grateful to receive federal assistance thro...

ESYO Welcomes New Faces This Fall

16 August 2021
ESYO WELCOMES NEW FACES THIS FALL Dr. David Bebe Director of Education The Empire State Youth Orchestra is excited to welcome Dr. David Bebe to the musical community as Director of Educati...

Downbeat | Summer 2021

16 August 2021
DOWNBEAT | SUMMER 2021 Official e-Newsletter of the Empire State Youth Orchestra ESYO WELCOMES NEW FACES THIS FALL! ESYO WELCOMES DR. DAVID BEBE, DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, AND ZOË AUE...

New August Summer Programs

04 August 2021
Join ESYO’s new Summer Programs for a variety of both educational and social events! Open to all students registered for the 2021-2022 season, members are able to register “a la carte” for an...

Tips & Tricks for a Successful Audition

27 May 2021
Tips & Tricks for a Successful Audition Audition Video Deadline is Wednesday, June 9, 2021 Auditions are a regular part of being a serious musician. Whether you are a youth musici...

ESYO Virtual Parent Forum

10 May 2021
ESYO Virtual Parent Forum Monday, May 17, 2021 | 7:00pm - 8:00pm Whether your child is just starting out or an experienced player, whether they are a percussionist, jazz, folk or clas...

ESYO Celebrates International Jazz Day

30 April 2021
ESYO Celebrates International Jazz Day April 30th is International Jazz Day, a day to celebrate a uniquely American art form Today is International Jazz Day! A day to celebrate a uniq...

In the Classroom, on Stage, or at a Pep Rally, ESYO Musicians are Leaders in Their School

30 March 2021
Whether in the classroom, on stage, or at a pep rally, ESYO musicians are leaders in their school. When not on stage with ESYO Symphony Orchestra, flutist Chris Connors can be found cour...

The Value of School Music Programs!

17 March 2021
School Music Programs Feed the Soul & Nourish the Mind Music brightens the day, uplifts our spirit, nourishes our creative minds, and develops the brain Have you ever stopped and ...

ESYO Musicians to Perform at Schenectady's Young Musicians Forum

17 March 2021
ESYO Musicians to Perform at Schenectady's Young Musicians Forum Catch their performance at the annual Beat the Snow Winter Concert Series online this Sunday, March 21,...

It Begins at School! Music Teachers Help Musicians Form Deep Ties to their Instrument

10 March 2021
It Begins at School! Music Teachers Help Musicians Form Deep Ties with their Musical Instrument Do you remember the first time you picked up your instrument? The excitement, the energy, ...

Help ESYO Pilot a New Music Program

21 February 2021
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ESYO Alumni Spotlight | ESYO Alumni Serve as CHIME Teaching Artists

17 February 2021
ESYO Alumni Spotlight | ESYO CHIME Reunites a Quartet of Friends Who First Met as Members of ESYO ESYO Alumni Monica Roach, Cathy Gatta, Teresa Gatta-Norton, and Matthew Johnson share th...

ESYO Recieves Vital Support from Local, Regional, and National Foundations

27 January 2021
ESYO Recieves Vital Support from Local, Regional, and National Foundations ESYO has received $156,000 in grant support from 13 local, regional, and national foundations The global COV...

ESYO Musicians & Alumni Celebrate MLK Day at State Capitol

25 January 2021
ESYO Musicians and Alumni Celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at the New York State Capitol ESYO violists Peyton Roach and Cristiane Richardson perform "Lift Every Voice & Sing" wit...

ESYO Alum, Master Sergeant Brian Sacawa Performs at Presidential Inauguration

20 January 2021
ESYO Alum, Master Sergeant Brian Sacawa Performs at 2021 Presidential Inauguration Today in our Nation's Capital, ESYO alumnus Master Sergeant Brian Sacawa and the United States Army F...

ESYO Inaugurates a New Year of Mentoring the Next Generation

19 January 2021
ESYO Inaugurates a New Year of Mentoring the Next Generation Twenty-five service-minded adults from all walks of life and professional disciplines step up to mentor members of the ESYO Y...

Mentors Matter!

08 January 2021
Mentors Matter! ESYO welcomes twenty-five mentors to the ESYO Young Leader Program January is National Mentoring Month, and ESYO is excited to welcome twenty-five mentors to the ESYO ...

ESYO CHIME Returns to the Stage

23 December 2020
EYSO CHIME Returns to the Stage to Create Harmony In March, ESYO CHIME traded their rehearsal room for a Google Classroom and the auditorium for a virtual stage. Earlier this month, ES...

Is Music Essential?

22 December 2020
Is Music Essential? Did 2020 change and challenge our perceptions of music? What a year!  2020 has changed and challenged each of us and ESYO in unimaginable ways.  Never be...

What is a Virtual Concert Hall?

13 November 2020
What is a Virtual Concert Hall? ESYO Launches a Digital Stage to Bring Joy During the COVID-19 Pandemic COVID-19 has shuttered concert halls across the region while ghost lights watched...

Happy 250th Birthday Beethoven!

12 November 2020
HAPPY 250th BIRTHDAY BEETHOVEN ESYO Symphony Orchestra Salutes Beethoven with Birthday Performance Few composers changed the course of western music history like Ludwig van Beethoven. T...

ESYO Announces Tutti! A Virtual Music Festival

10 November 2020
ESYO's Tutti! Festival | All Together, Again In March, COVID-19 shuttered concert halls and closed theatres across the country. ESYO moved online and hosted its first-ever digital music festiv...