Want to have your piece premiered by the NYYS Orchestra, Jazz Band Classic, or Chamber Music programs? Apply now to our First Music competition! The deadline for submissions is January 6, 2012.

First Music, the New York Youth Symphony’s young composer competition, commissions America’s best emerging orchestra, chamber music, and jazz composers under age 30. It has been acknowledged widely as one of the leading forces in the United States for bringing the work of gifted young composers to the public’s attention.

For more information, click here.

Jazz Band Classic opens their season at Symphony Space on Friday, December 9, 2011 and Saturday, December 10, 2011. Both performances will begin at 7:30pm.

Jazz Band Classic, under the direction of Matt Holman, will be performing a concert titled “Basie and Beyond,” which will include charts from Basie’s famed arrangers such as Frank Foster, Neal Hefti, and Sammy Nestico, as well as more recent works in the Basie tradition from composers Thad Jones and Scott Ninmer (First Music Commission). In addition, trumpeter Marcus Printup will be joining the group on several numbers.

Tickets are available at the Symphony Space box office for $20!

Leslie Garfield, Chair, and Slade Mills, President of the New York Youth Symphony (NYYS), announced that Joshua (JD) Gersen will lead the orchestra into its 50th season as newly appointed Music Director. Mr. Gersen, currently serving as Conducting Fellow of the New World Symphony, will succeed Ryan McAdams, who is currently in his fifth year with the NYYS.
 
In making the announcement on behalf of the Search Committee and the entire Board, Messrs. Garfield and Mills said, “We are delighted that Mr. Gersen will join our organization as our sixteenth Music Director.  He comes to us at this exciting moment in our history with an impressive resume of accomplishments in his early career. Joshua is joining an illustrious roster of New York Youth Symphony Music Directors, including Leonard Slatkin, David Alan Miller, Miguel Harth-Bedoya, Mischa Santora, Paul Haas, and of course our esteemed present leader, Ryan McAdams.”
 
On behalf of the Search Committee, NYYS Executive Director Shauna Quill noted that “Joshua Gersen’s passionate commitment to the development of young artists was a key factor in the Committee’s decision to invite Mr. Gersen to be our next Music Director. The orchestra musicians were deeply impressed with Mr. Gersen’s technical command of the podium, as well as his knowledge of classic repertoire and enthusiasm for conducting contemporary music.”

Click here to view the complete press release

Shauna Quill, Executive Director of the New York Youth Symphony (NYYS), announced Robbi Kearns has been hired as the organization’s new Director of Artistic Operations. In making the announcement, Ms. Quill said, “We are thrilled to have Robbi come on board during this exciting time in our history. His vast range of experience in the field of music production and touring will be a great asset to NYYS as we move into our 50th Anniversary and expand our reach within the community and beyond.”

“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with the New York Youth Symphony at it reaches this milestone in its history,” Mr. Kearns stated. “I am excited about working with Shauna and the administrative staff to grow the organization as well as support the Directors of the individual programs to allow them to nurture the talent of our student musicians and composers.”

Click here to view the complete press release