INTRODUCING OUR NEW MUSIC DIRECTOR ETIENNE ABELIN! 2021-2022 SEASON | SPRING EDITION IV, VOLUME V
Welcome back to another exciting performance featuring the Empire State Youth Orchestra. I hope you will be inspired by this performance by our incredibly talented youth, and that you will be moved by the sheer beauty of the music they perform. I am excited to welcome our new Music Director and Symphony conductor, Etienne Abelin, to ESYO. Etienne comes to us from Basal Switzerland, bringing a wealth of creativity and expertise that will surely inform a brilliant vision for ESYO. His international acclaim as a conductor, violinist, and musical collaborator reaffirms ESYO's history as a premier youth orchestra and cultural institution, while his spirit of innovation will establish ESYO as a creative force for good in the community and an incubator for new ideas in music and education. I would like to take this opportunity, on behalf of all our staff and Board of Directors, to thank you for attending this concert and supporting our youth. ESYO relies on the generosity and advocacy of so many of you. Thank you for making this performance possible and for continuing to believe in the power of music. I invite you to sit back, relax, and enjoy. Let the music move you and inspire you to see in our youth what we have the good fortune of witnessing each day; creative and passionate musicians with talent and wisdom beyond their years. Rebecca Calos Executive Director
YOUTH ORCHESTRA ETIENNE ABELIN, MUSIC DIRECTOR YOUTH JAZZ ORCHESTRA & REPERTORY JAZZ ORCHESTRA MAY 2022 ESYO Repertory & Youth Orchestras swing into spring with an evening of invigorating music by jazz greats Duke Ellington, Joseph Kosma, and more. FRIDAY, MAY 13, 2022 7:30PM CARL B. TAYLOR AUDITORIUM AT SUNY SCHENECTADY SPONSORED BY
SCHENECTADY, NY 12305 | 518.382.7581 | ESYO.ORG 2021 -2022 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Omar Williams Chair Barry Richman Vice-Chair Caitlin Mochrie Treasurer Mary Clyne Secretary Robert Altman Brian Axford Robert Bengraff Deidre Hill Butler Heather Chan Henk Elzenga James Haertel Stefon Harris Andrew LaCoppola Kara Lais Brian Sacawa Christopher Shiley Elizabeth Silver Anne-Marie Gorman Doyle Director of Development Andrea Restrepo Operations Assistant, Symphony Orchestra & String Orchestra Manager, & Librarian Zoë Auerbach CHIME & Young Leaders Program Manager Justin Cook Marketing & Publications Manager Mary Rose Petrozola Administrative Assistant & Member Services Coordinator Sam Herman Administrative Assistant & Brand Manager Richard Albagli Youth Percussion Ensemble & Repertory Percussion Ensemble Mark Foster Youth Percussion Ensemble John Antonio Repertory Percussion Ensemble Genoveffa Vitale Chamber Percussion Ensemble Hannah Dick Concertino Percussion Ensemble Dr. Peter Bellino Youth Jazz Orchestra Keith Pray Repertory Jazz Orchestra Julie Taylor Concertino Wind Choir Scott Hopkins Concertino Brass Choir Rae Jean Teeter Concert Chorale ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF Rebecca Calos Executive Director Lisa Stulmaker Finance Director Sue Lascoe Director of Operations & Repertory Orchestra Manager David Bebe Director of Education CONDUCTING STAFF Etienne Abelin Music Director & Symphony Orchestra David Beck Repertory Orchestra Joseph Gumpper String Orchestra Leo Milman Concertino Strings Dr. Robert Hansbrough Wind Orchestra CHIME STAFF Lenore Aldi-Snow Teaching Artist Brian Brancato Teaching Artist Jessica Bowen Teaching Artist Cathy Gatta Teaching Artist Cara Miner Site Manager Stefanie Nicou Teaching Artist Teresa Gatta Norton Teaching Artist Richard Jimenez Teaching Artist Matthew Johnson Teaching Artist Lin Polster Site Manager Justin Relf Site Manager Bridie Schnore Teaching Artist Nicholaus Smith Teaching Artist Susan Wheeler Teaching Artist Monica Wilson-Roach Teaching Artist
Throughout the season, ESYO Symphony and Repertory Orchestra members are coached and mentored by a group of dedicated musicians and teachers from the Capital Region and beyond. We are grateful to our team of coaches for offering their guidance and expertise, inspiring our youth to pursue musical excellence. VIOLIN & VIOLA Matthew Johnson, Viola Leo Milman, Violin Natalya Milman, Violin Jamecyn Morey, Violin Hilary Cumming, Violin CELLOS & BASSES Luke Baker, Bass David Bebe, Cello Andrea Restrepo, Cello & Bass Andre O'Neil, Cello WOODWINDS & BRASS Michael Blostein, Brass Edward Marschilok, Woodwinds Jacqueline Wright, Woodwinds Susan Gierthy, Oboe Julie Taylor, Clarinet Michelle McLoughlin, Bassoon John Fatuzzo, Trumpet Jessica Cunningham, Horn PERCUSSION John Antonio, Percussion STRING CHAMBER MUSIC COACHES David Bebe Jamecyn Morey Jessica Belflower WIND CHAMBER MUSIC COACH Julie Taylor
Empire State Youth Orchestra (ESYO) is continuing to challenge and inspire more than 600 of the most talented youth from the Capital Region of New York, Western New England, and all walks of life to achieve musical excellence through intensive instruction and high-level performance. Through twelve performing ensembles and ESYO CHIME, ESYO is igniting a lifelong love of music in the youngest members of our communities, and breaking boundaries between communities and backgrounds to grow the future of music. ESYO’s progressive program nourishes students in elementary through high school, growing with them as they expand their musical and personal capabilities. But, the ESYO experience is about more than exceptional music. Through the ESYO experience, young people build confidence, practice teamwork, and cultivate personal drive, giving them the skills to achieve success in music, college, and beyond. ESYO alums go on as leaders in fields as diverse as engineering and art. They can also be found in all areas of the music industry – from national orchestras and recording studios to music classrooms. ESYO also seeks to expand its impact beyond its membership, believing music can be a catalyst for social change in the communities in which ESYO musicians live, learn, and play. This belief is why ESYO has helped raise more than $8 million for Albany Medical Center’s pediatric oncology program through the Melodies of Christmas concerts. To further expand its impact, ESYO launched ESYO CHIME in 2015. Through free, daily music instruction and mentorship, ESYO CHIME provides young musicians in Schenectady, Albany, and Troy schools with comprehensive support from elementary school through high school. The CHIME team places children on the path to musical excellence and cultivates skills needed to succeed in all areas of life, including collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking. Founded by parents and music teachers Barry Richman, Eleanor Barnes, and Lois Lyman in 1979, the ESYO experience now includes everything from concerts at Carnegie Hall to benefit performances, master classes with exceptional musicians like the Shanghai Quartet, DEKA Quartet, and the Musicians of Ma’alwyck to international tours of Europe and Asia. All of this would not be accomplished without the support and the generosity of many individuals, corporations, and foundations whose gifts are an investment in the future of music. The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged us to learn, but not just in a classroom. It has challenged us to rehearse, but not always in a rehearsal room. It has challenged us to perform, both in-person and online. This season, join ESYO as we return to the stage and celebrate the grand opening of our first-ever Virtual Concert Hall. For more about ESYO or to pledge your support go to esyo.org. If you are a young musician interested in joining ESYO, there is a place for you! For information on auditions visit esyo.org/join.
Sinfonietta, the Orquestra Sinfonica Portuguesa, the Ensemble Orchestral de Paris and many others in venues and festivals such as Royal Festival Hall London, La Scala Milano, Birmingham Symphony Hall, Teatro Sao Carlos Lisbon, the Odeon of Herodes Atticus Athens or Beethovenfest Bonn. His enthusiasm for new, genre-crossing music led him to conduct world premieres by Gabriel Prokofiev and William Brittelle. In 2021 he enjoyed the distinction of being featured as one of five visionary conductors in the Karajan Foundation’s documentary series Conducting the Future alongside Marin Alsop, Paavo Järvi, Lars Vogt and Miguel Perez Iñesta. ETIENNE ABELIN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA CONDUCTOR Swiss conductor Etienne Abelin has been described as a “post-classical pioneer” in the BBC Music Magazine and an “icon of new ways in classical music” by the Musica Viva Magazine Brazil. His gripping, emotionally charged performances have been hailed as “always unforgettably fine” by eminent conducting mentor Jorma Panula. Abelin won the exceptional accolade of being a musical collaborator for 18 years of a classical music legend, the late Claudio Abbado, who has been described as one of the three all-time greatest conductors by BBC Music. As such, he was handpicked by Mr. Abbado to be a founding member of the Lucerne Festival Orchestra and the Orchestra Mozart Bologna where he was the Principal Second Violin for seven years. With these orchestras, he performed in the world’s post prestigious concert halls and recorded for labels such as Deutsche Grammophon or Harmonia Mundi. As a conductor, he has performed with the Beethoven Orchester Bonn, the A gifted communicator, Etienne Abelin is a double time TEDx speaker and performer and has hosted numerous concerts of orchestras such as the Orquestra Sinfonica Portuguesa or the Sistema Europe Youth Orchestra in Lisbon, Istanbul, Milano or Athens. He’s a frequent contributor on Swiss National radio and television on a wide range of topics, from genre-crossing music to new concert formats, conductors and blind comparisons of recordings. Abelin’s passion for entrepreneurship, technology, education and social change through music have, over the years, led him to co-found and co-direct the Pan-European Sistema Europe Youth Orchestra, the Swiss El Sistema-inspired program Superar Suisse, the Apples&Olives Indie Classical Festival Zurich, the Ynight-Classical in Club series and most recently Music:Eyes - See what you Hear, a music tech ed platform based on music animations. Born in Bern, Switzerland, Abelin studied the violin at the Musik-Akademie Basel, Oberlin College and Indiana University, executive business administration at the University of St. Gallen and conducting with teachers such as Jorma Panula, Neil Varon, Larry Rachleff, Johannes Schläfli, James Allen Anderson and Don Schleicher.
PROGRAM Carl B. Taylor Auditorium SUNY Schenectady EMPIRE STATE YOUTH ORCHESTRA ETIENNE ABELIN, MUSIC DIRECTOR Friday, May 13, 2022, 7:30PM REPERTORY JAZZ ORCHESTRA KEITH PRAY, CONDUCTOR TRADITIONAL I'll Fly Away DUKE ELLINGTON (1899-1974) Limbo Jazz RED PRYSOCK (1926-1993) Plaid Laces JOESEPH KOSMA (1905-1969) Autumn Leaves TRADITIONAL Bye and Bye FREDDIE HUBBARD Little Sunflower MAKING A DIFFERENCE This performance is made possible in part by the generosity of
PROGRAM Carl B. Taylor Auditorium SUNY Schenectady EMPIRE STATE YOUTH ORCHESTRA ETIENNE ABELIN, MUSIC DIRECTOR Friday, May 13, 2022, 7:30PM YOUTH JAZZ ORCHESTRA DR. PETER BELLINO, CONDUCTOR BRONSILAW KAPER (1902-1983), ARR. LES HOOPER On Green Dolphin Street Soloists: Daniel Jantson- Drums, Angelo Delaney- Alto Saxophone, Conor Costello- Trumpet CHARLES MINGUS (1922-1979), ARR. STEVE SLAGLE Fables of Faubus Soloists: Arin Khare- Trumpet, Nathan Yan- Tenor Saxophone, Dalton Sargent- Baritone Saxophone DIZZY GILLESPIE (1917-1993), ARR. MIKE TOMARO Manteca Soloists: Nathan Yan- Tenor Saxophone, Daniel Jantson- Drums MARIA SCHNEIDER (b. 1960) Walking By Flashlight Soloist: Dalton Sargent- Soprano Saxophone, Grant Harding -Piano HERBIE HANCOCK ( b. 1940), ARR. GRANT HARDING Textures Soloists: Kevin Lu- Alto Saxophone, Grant Harding- Piano CHICK COREA (1941-2021), ARR. PAUL JENNINGS Spain Soloists: Angelo Delaney- Alto Saxophone, Arin Khare, Trumpet, Grant Harding -Piano MAKING A DIFFERENCE This performance is made possible in part by the generosity of
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