A SEASON OF GRATITUDE
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 the challenges and adversity of the pandemic, ESYO's young musicians persevered and inspired our conductors and staff to adapt to a landscape that seemed to change daily. This tested generation of young musicians has proved to be most resilient, turning adversity into growth and challenges into opportunities. This season marked the return of a more "normal" ESYO experience. ESYO musicians reunited with their stand partners, ushers eagerly greeted audiences back to the concert hall, and fanfares echoed around the Capital Region for all to enjoy. Virtual performances, while fun for a time, cannot replace the magic of performing live and sharing music with family and friends within the concert hall. Our hearts were filled with joy and gratitude as we heard thunderous applause and enjoyed standing ovations. Through the year, ESYO welcomed many guest artists, including GRAMMY Award-winning Trumpet player Michael Rodriguez, Orchestra NOW's Andres Rivas, and American Idol finalist Madison VanDenburg. ESYO alumni Hannah Dick and Noel Holloway made a special visit to perform at ESYO Percussion's annual holiday concert, and CHIME musicians collaborated with composer Chris FisherLochhead to create “Stand Tall! Reflections on Resilience.” Etienne Abelin joined ESYO in March as our new Music Director. An accomplished violinist, visionary conductor, and cultural entrepreneur, he brings a fresh perspective and a spirit of innovation to ESYO. Etienne's pioneering vision brought together ESYO Symphony Orchestra, composer Fabrizio Cassol, cellist Sebastian Stoger, and DJ Wendel Patrick for an unforgettable performance at Tanglewood's Seiji Ozawa Hall in June. The 2021-2022 season also marked a transformative moment in ESYO's history with the purchase of the former St. Joseph's Parish School in Scotia-Glenville. It is the first step towards ESYO's vision of creating a physical space where music, technology, and community can all come together. Over the next several years, ESYO will transform the former school into the permanent home of its performing ensembles and administrative offices. We invite you to flip through this Year in Review to relive many memorable moments of the 2021-2022 season. We are truly grateful to you, our friends, families and donors for supporting our youth, and helping make the magic happen! Rebecca Calos, Executive Director 2 | 2021-2022 Year in Review Anne-Marie Gorman Doyle, Development Director and the ESYO Team
NEW MUSIC DIRECTOR In March, following a global search, Etienne Abelin took the podium to lead ESYO as Music Director. Internationally recognized as a conductor, violinist, and creative entrepreneur, Etienne brings a spirit of innovation and fresh perspectives to ESYO. Topping his list of priorities: the creation of an inclusive culture, fueled by creativity and innovation. Three Facts About Etienne: Handpicked by Claudio Abaddo to be a founding member of the prestigious Lucerne Festival Orchestra and the principal second violin of the Orchestra Mozart Bologna Co-created Music: Eyes—See what you Hear, a music tech-ed start-up platform Co-founder of Sistema Europe Youth Orchestra, YnightClassical Music in Clubs Series and the Apples & Olives Indie Classical Festival Etienne jumped right in and worked with Symphony Orchestra to prepare for their first concert together. Etienne made his debut at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall on April 3rd. "icon of new ways in classical music" —MUSICA VIVA MAGAZINE BRAZIL "post-classical pioneer" —BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE esyo.org | 3
PERSEVERANCE For three seasons ESYO musicians and conductors have played through the challenges of the pandemic. Sounding together, they adapted to a landscape that seemed to change everyday. The joy of sounding together was amplified by the return of stand partners. Moments of Resilience After nearly two seasons apart, the ESYO Wind and Brass choirs took to the stage as one orchestra. The 2021-2022 season marked the beginning of a greater sense of normalcy. 4 | 2021-2022 Year in Review
I don’t think I would be where I am without COVID. It showed me a side of music that a lot of people experienced, but I had to persevere and be resilient while doing it.” -Jay-Era, ESYO Youth Jazz Orchestra, Repertory Orchestra, & CHIME ESYO and our partners at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall happily welcomed families and friends old and new back to the concert hall for the first time since 2020. Music is a joyful pursuit shared by many in ESYO. When we make music together we spread joy and laughter. esyo.org | 5
Each year, in partnership with the Schenectady City School District, ESYO CHIME provides high level music opportunities to more than 100 Schenectady students. Creating Harmony and Inspiring Musical Excellence is at the heart of the program. All Together, in Music! With smiles, excitement, and joy, all three program sites returned to in-person rehearsals & lessons. Our First CHIME Alumni! Delaney, DeVaughn, and Jay-Era were first in line when ESYO opened CHIME to middle school musicians in 2017. Now they are ESYO’s first-ever CHIME Alumni. Congratulations, graduates! A New Director! Zoë Auerbach joined ESYO as the new Director of CHIME. Zoë has enjoyed a career as a violinist, teacher, and administrator. She holds undergraduate degrees in violin performance and a master’s degree from CUNY Graduate Center. 6 | 2021-2022 Year in Review DELANEY, DEVAUGHN, & JAY-ERA ZOË AUERBACH
Everyday life is filled with challenges and adversity. It shapes our experiences as individuals and as a community. But what does resiliency sound like? Together as a musical community, ESYO CHIME explored the interconnectedness of music, sound, and emotion to create Stand Tall! Reflections on Resilience. CHIME musicians wrote and shared personal stories and reflections on resilience. Nearly 100 young musicians "sounded out resilience" through their instruments, improvisations, and personal stories. Composer-in-Residence, Chris Fisher-Lochhead, took those expressions and improvisations and arranged them into a larger orchestral work which was inspiring, timely, and incredibly relevant. Funded in part by Carnegie Hall’s PlayUSA, Stand Tall! was premiered by an all CHIME Orchestra at GE Theatre on Thursday, May 26th to a sold out audience. In June, a chamber ensemble featuring CHIME musicians and teaching artists traveled to Carnegie Hall to perform the new work for a national convening of PlayUSA community partners. After the presentation, members of the PUBLICQuartet performed, and then improvised, with the students over a vamped section of "Stand Tall!” “When there’s an obstacle in your way, When you feel like you can’t face the day, When you’re afraid that you will fall behind, you gotta believe that you can always shine.” —STAND TALL! BY ESYO CHIME esyo.org | 7
It was a welcome return to live performances on the historic Troy Savings Bank Music Hall stage after an entire season of performing for a virtual audience. This was the first time the Concertino Strings performed in the legendary hall once graced by Sergei Rachmaninoff and Yehudi Menuhin. ESYO CHIME Orchestra & Repertory Orchestra joined hundreds of young artists from around the region at SPAC’s Annual Festival of Young Artists. The theme of the festival was the Declaration of Interdependence. ESYO Wind Orchestra and Symphony Orchestra dedicated performances of the Ukrainian National Anthem to all those around the world who seek peace and justice, defend life and liberty, and believe in a world without war and suffering. ESYO Young Leaders gave a free concert in Orsini Park to collect donations for the Regional Food Bank. Way to go, Georgia Burtt! Flash Mobs are fun! ESYO Symphony Orchestra and Etienne Abelin crashed the Troy Waterfront Farmers Market performing excerpts from Prokofiev’s Romeo & Juliet and a fun calypso piece that got onlookers dancing in the streets. AUDIENCE SIZE NUMBER OF CONCERTS 23 8 | 2021-2022 Year in Review REHEARSAL HOURS 552 9,100
ESYO Playathon returned to Crossgates Mall for the first time since the start of the pandemic. This annual musical marathon is ESYO’s biggest and most important fundraiser each season. Musicians raised money online and throughout the day, delighting in the dollars that rained down from the balcony during their performances. 300+ YOUNG MUSICIANS 10 PERFORMING ENSEMBLES 30 MINUTES OF MUSIC RECORD BREAKING $75,000 RAISED esyo.org | 9
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