News and Press
May, 2013
The Norwalk Youth Symphony Class of 2013
NYS honored its graduating seniors in a ceremony at the 2013 Mother's Day Concert.
Jonathan Yates, Richard Brooks, and the Class of 2013
- Emily Armstrong -
- Ashley Bascom -
- Harrison Besser -
- Matthew Campbell -
- Darius Colson -
- Catie DeElsi -
- James Dobbyn -
- Ana Lucia Galarza -
- Isa Goldberg -
- Matthew Henninger -
- Katie Hickson -
- Molly James -
- Bridget Johnson -
- Kathy Kozinski -
- Jillian Kutner -
- Charlie Lo Presti -
- Alex Lochoff -
- Barbara Luther -
- Sarah McDonald -
- Alexandra Meilhac -
- Lianne Metter -
- Sarah Mitchell -
- Ian Nanez -
- Sydney Olshan -
- Eva Redamonti -
- Philip Syrrist -
- Michael White -
- Susana Wilson-Hawken -
- Michelle Ye
The 2013 Ramer Memorial Scholarship Award was awarded to Michelle Ye. The Award is granted each year to a deserving senior as chosen by their peers on the basis of attendance, leadership, preparation, and commitment.
The Norwalk Youth Symphony extends its heartiest congratulations to our graduates and wishes them every success in the future.
May, 2013
NYS at Tanglewood
The Norwalk Youth Symphony, serving 30 towns in Connecticut and New York, will be performing at Tanglewood’s Seiji Ozawa Hall on Sunday, June 2nd at 2 PM with the Fairfield County Children’s Choir Chamber Singers and pianist Gilbert Kalish.
A highlight of the concert will be a performance by Gilbert Kalish of Beethoven’s Fantasia in C minor with the Norwalk Youth Symphony Principal Orchestra and Fairfield County Children’s Choir Chamber Singers. The concert will also feature works by Bernstein, Copland and Mahler.
Gilbert Kalish’s influence as a pianist and educator has established him as a prominent figure in American music-making. In 2006 he was awarded the Peabody Medal by the Peabody Conservatory for his outstanding contributions to music in America. He was the pianist of the Boston Symphony Chamber Players for 30 years, and is known for his collaboration with mezzo-soprano Jan DeGaetani, soprano Dawn Upshaw and cellists Timothy Eddy and Joel Krosnik. From 1985 to 1997 he served as chairman of the Tanglewood faculty. A distinguished professor at SUNY Stony Brook, Mr. Kalish has been an Artist of The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center since 2006.
The Norwalk Youth Symphony (NYS) is comprised of approximately 240 students in grades four through twelve. The organization was founded in 1956 to enrich the lives of young people within a musical community. In partnership with parents, teachers, and schools, NYS provides exposure to diverse orchestral styles under the guidance of musical professionals, identify and educate motivated students regardless of financial circumstance, foster a sense of achievement and self-esteem through a developmental approach, and promote self-discipline and teamwork through respect for artistic standards. NYS has performed at Carnegie Hall and Tanglewood, as well as in venues in Italy, Spain, Austria, and the Czech Republic.
The Fairfield County Children's Choir (FCCC) is a community-based choral program made up of over three hundred children in grades four through twelve. Founded in 1995 to provide children the opportunity to participate in a musical experience which is challenging, rewarding and enjoyable, the FCCC provides instruction in vocal technique, choral technique, music literacy and the appreciation of music through the practice and performance of great choral repertoire. The FCCC has performed throughout New England as well as in New York, New Orleans, San Francisco, Oakland, Hawaii, Canada, England, Ireland, Austria and the Czech Republic. The group has shared the stage with such artists as Renee Fleming, Charles Strouse, Stephen Schwartz, Sam Waterston, and Christopher Plummer.
Tickets are priced at $20 for adults and $15 for seniors and students and are available at the door before the concert. For further information, please visit the NYS website at www.norwalkyouthsymphony.org. You may also email NYS Executive Director Sara Watkins at nysed@optonline.net or phone the NYS office at 203-866-4100.
January, 2013
Winter Concert Features Concerto Competition Winner
This season's Winter Concert will feature Matthew Henninger, clarinet, in a performance of the Clarinet Concerto No. 1 in F minor, Op. 73 by Carl Maria von Weber.
Matthew Henninger, 17, has
been studying clarinet since the fourth grade and started private lessons
in seventh grade. He is currently a senior at Brookfield High School and
studies under Kathy Taylor, who is Principal Clarinetist of the Greater
Bridgeport Symphony and Clarinetist of the Grammy-Nominated Borealis Wind
Quintet. Matt has been a member of the Norwalk Youth Symphony for six years
and has been Principal Clarinet of the Principal Orchestra for two
years.
As part of the Norwalk Youth Symphony, Matt has performed in Carnegie Hall, Tanglewood, and the Rose Studio at Lincoln Center. He has also performed in a master class with clarinetist David Shifrin.
In the summer of 2011, Matt attended the Music Institute at Rhode Island College, where he was coached under Ian Greitzer and served as Principal Clarinet of the Wind Ensemble and Clarinetist of the Ravel Wind Quintet.
Matt participated, for the first time, in the CMEA program in 2012 and was Assistant Principal of the Western Regional Festival Orchestra and Assistant Principal of the All-State Festival Band. This year, Matt will serve as Principal Clarinetist of the All-New England Festival Orchestra, which features student musicians from Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Maine, and Connecticut.
The Norwalk Youth Symphony Winter Concert will take place on Sunday February 10, 2013 at 3PM at the Norwalk Concert Hall at City Hall, 125 East Avenue, Norwalk CT.
October, 2012
2012 TEC Showcase Features NYS Musicians
The Leon Tec Showcase For Outstanding Young Musicians is an annual concert providing selected, gifted Connecticut high school musicians the opportunity to perform professionally, coached by a distinguished musician and by the artistic director for the event.
The 2012 Showcase features Katie Zhou, violin and Max Liben, cello, members of Principal Orchestra, in a program including the Beethoven Piano Trio in E-flat major, Op.1, No. 1 and works by Debussy.
This year's event takes place on Friday, October 19, 2012 at 8:00 PM at The Unitarian Church in Westport, 10 Lyons Plains Road.