2021-2022 SEASON | FALL EDITION VOLUME 1
I am looking forward to a season full of joy, and a return to something like “normalcy.” So much about our world has changed as a result of the pandemic, and yet the beauty expressed through music remains unaltered. I am so glad that you have joined us today to offer a round of applause for the accomplishments of our young people, and to celebrate their musical gifts. And we have much to celebrate! We open our season with a series of four live concerts in November: three performed at the iconic Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, and the fourth at our rehearsal home, Brown School. The concert series features players just beginning their musical journeys, such as our Concertino Strings, Chamber Percussion and String Orchestra members, as well as our seasoned performers in Symphony and Repertory Orchestra, Youth Jazz and Youth Percussion. All have grown through the last 18 months, and we are here to celebrate that growth. We are very proud of all of them. In crafting the season opening program for Symphony Orchestra, our former Music Director, Carlos Agreda, chose repertoire focused on the concept of light, and proposed that our youth and their musical voices be the light to lead us out of the crisis our world faces. Truly the arts, and music in particular, can offer a “lightness of being” during even the most difficult times. I hope that the music surrounding you during today’s performance will evoke fond memories, hope, and perhaps even a little laughter. And, I hope that beneath the masks there will be many smiles! With concerts in December and throughout 2022, I am grateful simply to be able to make music together and to have the good fortune to share it with you. Thank you for the support you have given our young musicians, and thank you for being here to celebrate! Rebecca Calos Executive Director
NOVEMBER 2021 ESYO Ensembles return to the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall to perform the music they love for a live audience. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2021 TO SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2021 TROY SAVINGS BANK MUSIC HALL THE BROWN SCHOOL SPONSORED BY
SCHENECTADY, NY 12305 | 518.382.7581 | ESYO.ORG 2021 -2022 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Kurt Bratten Co-Chair Patty Michaelson Co-Chair Omar Williams 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 Barry Richman 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 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 & 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 Andrés Rivas Symphony Orchestra Guest Conductor David Beck Repertory Orchestra Joseph Gumpper String Orchestra Leo Milman Concertino Strings Dr. Robert Hansbrough Wind Orchestra CHIME STAFF Lenore Aldi-Snow Teaching Artist Connor Armbruster Teaching Artist Brian Brancato Teaching Artist Jessica Bowen Teaching Artist Nyasia Darby Site Manager 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 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 Jaqueline 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.
under the baton of many conductors, including the late Claudio Abbado, Giuseppe Sinopoli, Sir Simon Rattle, Gustavo Dudamel, Esa Pekka Salonen, Joann Faletta, James Bagwell, Leon Botstein, and John Williams. Since 2008, Mr. Rivas has performed on numerous international tours with the Orquesta Sinfónica Simón Bolívar de Venezuela, performing in countries including Austria, Japan, South Korea, Portugal, Italy, Germany, Russia, the Czech Republic, Sweden, Switzerland, Croatia, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Mexico, Norway, Belgium, Trinidad and Tobago, France, London, Scotland, and Spain. In 2009 Mr. Rivas was invited by Maestro Dudamel to perform as Assistant Director during a national tour throughout Venezuela, conducting works by Tchaikovsky, Wagner, and others. In 2012 he was invited by Dr. Jose Antonio Abreu to participate in a concert-style Proms at the Vienna Konzerthaus. In 2013 he was part of the creation of the bi-national orchestra South Korea–Venezuela, where he was invited to conduct the orchestra by Dr. Abreu. ANDRÉS RIVAS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA GUEST CONDUCTOR Born in Caracas in 1990, Andrés Rivas began his musical education at the age of 3 at the ‘Centro Académico Montalbán,’ part of the El Sistema de Orquestas Juveniles e Infantiles de Venezuela. In October of 2010, he made his international debut at the auditorium of the EWA University in Seoul, South Korea. In 2011, he was given the baton by Maestro Gustavo Dudamel at the inauguration of the National Center for Social Action for Music and the 36th anniversary of El Sistema in Venezuela. Months later, he shared the podium with Maestro Dudamel at a tribute concert for Venezuelan composer Juan Vicente Torrealba, where he conducted two of his works: Concierto a Caracas and Suite Torrealbera. He culminated the year by conducting this same orchestra at the Casa da Música theater in Oporto, Portugal. As a violinist, Mr. Rivas has worked with soloists from around the world, such as Martha Argerich, Gautier and Renaud Capuçon, Ilya Gringolts, Maurice Hasson, Natalia Gutman, Gabriela Montero, Alexander Romanovsky, Andreas In 2014, upon invitation from Leon Botstein, Mr. Rivas participated in Bard College’s prestigious Conductor’s Institute. In 2015, he began a Graduate Degree in Orchestral Conducting at Bard under Harold Farberman. In the same year, he undertook an Assistant Conductor role at the annual Bard Music Festival. In 2017, he finished his studies at Bard College, and then secured the only offered place at The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in their MMus/MA Orchestra Conducting program. The next year, he won the Miami Symphony Orchestra’s Conducting Fellowship and Apprenticeship under Eduardo Marturet. He has also led The Orchestra Now as concertmaster at venues such as Carnegie Hall and The Metropolitan Museum of Art with conductor Leon Botstein. He is presently the Assistant Conductor for The Orchestra Now and the Bard College Conservatory Orchestra.
PROGRAM Troy Savings Bank Music Hall SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Friday, November 5, 2021, 7:30PM SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA ANDRÉS RIVAS, GUEST CONDUCTOR JENNIFER HIGDON (USA, b. 1962) Light ARTURO MÁRQUEZ (Mexico, b. 1950) Danzón No. 2 ANTONÍN DVORÁK (1841 - 1904) ˇ Symphony No. 8 in G Major, Op. 88 I. Allegro con brio II. Adagio III. Allegretto grazioso - molto vivace IV. Allegro, ma non troppo MAKING A DIFFERENCE This performance is made possible in part by the generosity of
FIRST VIOLINS Faith Borkowski Co-concertmaster Romeo Vashishth Co-concertmaster Caitlin Weinheimer Assistant Concertmaster Sarah Biazon Georgia Burtt Minyi Chen Ingrid Colafati Pallavi Datta Tyler Jung Kristine Kim Karina Li Maia Regan Jun David Simons Tao Xie Catherine Yang Cadence Young SECOND VIOLINS Darren Cheng Principal Allison Wu Assistant Principal Gordon Amodeo Fay Hu Isabella Hu Daniel Joung Chris Kurbiel Tiffany Ma William Vartuli Michael Wong Allison Wu Xuning Ying Lauren Zhu Eric Kim VIOLAS Yu-Heng Wang Principal Annika Robin Assistant Principal Thomas Ahl Samantha Baker Amelia Douglas Matthew Kenyon Peyton Roach Grace Wei Megan Weiler CELLOS Trey Coughlin Principal Eujeong Choi Assistant Principal Tom Bowstead Hannah Byun Bryan Chae Christina Cheng John Connolly Casey Gao Ani Gregori Asadourian Ian Gu Ian Jin Johann Junkins Kyle Markham Stilian Mile Hanh Nguyen Liam Sullivan William Wu Michael Xie Vincent Zhang DOUBLE BASS Joseph Weinberg Principal Sophia Barnes Assistant Principal Orin Carlson-Lee Antonin Donohue FLUTES Emily Dupuis Benjamin Halpin 1,3 Lucy Lee 2 Madilyn Connor PICCOLO Benjamin Halpin OBOES Olivia Petti 3 Alicia Prieto 2 Madeleine Stewart Tingwen Zhang 1 CLARINETS Regan Doherty John Giordano 1 Hailey Lotz Julia Spretty 2,3³ BASSOONS Charlie Beauregard Ryan Kegg 1,2,3 Gigi Stewart FRENCH HORNS Kate Szumowski 2² Duncan Wall 1,3 Abbie Snyder* Mallorie Meyer* TRUMPETS Brian McNamara 1,3 Amanda Roberts 2,3³ TROMBONES Kevin Lee 2 Nicholas Lynch Anthony Zhang 1,3 TUBA Cecelia Betts TIMPANI Bailey Yerdon PERCUSSION Clara de Long Austin Ernst PIANO Ingrid Colafati PRINCIPALS ¹ 1 Higdon ² 2 Danzón ³ 3 Dvorak *Guest
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