News and Press
August, 2010
Norwalk Youth Symphony Appoints New Conductor
The Norwalk Youth Symphony is very excited to announce that it has secured the services of a wonderful new Conductor to lead the Principal Orchestra for the upcoming 2010-11 season. Mr. Jonathan Yates will be taking up the baton from his predecessor Ms. Tara Simoncic, who has accepted the position of Assistant Conductor of the Harrisburg, PA Symphony Orchestra.
Jonathan received his BA in music, magna cum laude, from Harvard University, his Masters of Music in piano from State University of New York at Stony Brook, and his Graduate Diploma in Conducting from The Julliard School. He has impressive experience as a conductor and musician. His current and past conducting positions include the Camerata Notturna in New York, the Sarah Lawrence Orchestra, the 92nd Street Y Community Orchestra, the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra, and the Harvard University Bach Society Orchestra.
Additional biographical information about Jonathan Yates.
January, 2010
Norwalk Youth Symphony's Master Class Series Presents Flutist Bärli Nugent
On Sunday April 25, 2010 The Norwalk Youth Symphony Master Class Series will present flutist Bärli Nugent.
Ms. Nugent, an alumnus of the Norwalk Youth Symphony Principal Orchestra, is the Assistant Dean, Director of Chamber Music, and a faculty member of the Juilliard School, and Director of Chamber Music for the Aspen Music Festival and School.
She received Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from Juilliard, and the Doctor of Musical Arts from the State University of New York at Stony Brook.
A founding member of the Aspen Wind Quintet, winners of the 1984 Naumburg Chamber Music Award, she performed over 1,000 concerts with the Quintet throughout the United States, Europe, the former Soviet Union, and North Africa. Principal flute of the Concordia Orchestra under conductor Marin Alsop for eighteen years, she co-curated the Concerti di Mezzogiorno chamber music series with Gian Carlo Menotti for the Festival of Two Worlds in Spoleto, Italy.
A former faculty member at the Bennington Chamber Music Conference, she has presented seminars at Juilliard, Hartt, Princeton, Stanford, the Chautauqua Institution, Beijing's Central Conservatory, Guangxi Arts College, Xinghai Conservatory, Shenzhen Conservatory, National Conservatory of Algiers, Vilnius Conservatory, and the Aarhus Conservatory. She was Program Director for the 2008 Emerson Quartet International Chamber Music Workshop, has served on advisory panels for Chamber Music America and the national board for the Aspen Music Festival and School, and been published by Chamber Music magazine and the Juilliard Journal.
The NYS Master Class Series features accomplished musicians, from various musical backgrounds (orchestral, chamber and solo performance) who are invited to give a Master Class. All students and spectators can benefit as the master calls upon an individual or a group of students and coaches them on how to play a certain piece, shares interesting facts about the composer and talks about his/her experiences as a professional musician.
The Norwalk Youth Symphony is pleased to open this extraordinary Master Class to the general public at no cost. This special event will take place on Sunday April 25th, 2010 from 5PM until 7PM at Norwalk City Hall which is located at 125 East Avenue, Norwalk CT.
December, 2009
Norwalk Youth Symphony's Master Class Series Presents Cellist Darrett Adkins
On Sunday January 10, 2010 The Norwalk Youth Symphony Master Class Series will present acclaimed cellist and recording artist Darrett Adkins.
Mr. Adkins has performed both nationally and internationally. Mr. Adkins was the 'Cellist of Honor' at the Rio de Janeiro International Cello Encounter; King Harald of Norway attended his Oslo debut. Mr. Adkins has recently performed with the Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra, Tochio Soloisten, Seoul's Prime Orchestra and the Tokyo Philharmonic. Until 2002 Mr. Adkins was a member of Flux, a string quartet dedicated to cutting-edge music. He appeared in major festivals in New York, Melbourne (Australia), Southern California (Ojai), and Oslo.
Mr. Adkins is a faculty member at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, The Juilliard School and the Aspen Music Festival and School.
The NYS Master Class Series features accomplished musicians, from various musical backgrounds (orchestral, chamber and solo performance) who are invited to give a Master Class. All students and spectators can benefit as the master calls upon an individual or a group of students and coaches them on how to play a certain piece, shares interesting facts about the composer and talks about his/her experiences as a professional musician.
The Norwalk Youth Symphony is pleased to open this extraordinary Master Class to the general public at no cost. This special event will take place on Sunday January 10th, 2010 from 5PM until 7PM at Norwalk City Hall which is located at 125 East Avenue, Norwalk CT.
July, 2009
NYS Plans Tour of Italy, Summer 2010
Following our exciting trip to Europe in 2008, members of Principal and Concert Orchestras will once again travel abroad. The Italy trip will include touring the cities of Venice, Florence and Rome, and performance venues include Venice, the Conservatory in Padua, and the Summer Concert Series in Lucca.
July, 2009
NYS Announces New Ensembles, New Conductors
NYS is excited to announce the Chamber Orchestra, one of our newest ensembles for the 2009-2010 Season. Conducted by Music Director, Tara Simoncic, the Chamber Orchestra is open to all members of the Principal Orchestra and is a wonderful opportunity for members to perform famous pieces written specifically for a smaller ensemble.
To enhance the education and development of our younger members, the Philharmonia Orchestra, formerly a full orchestra, has been re-organized into 2 ensembles - Philharmonia Strings and Philharmonia Orchestral Winds. Each group will have its own conductor, which will ensure that the musicians receive the
Jessica McNamara, a Music Educator in the Westport School system and NYS Violin Sectional coach, will conduct with the Philharmonia String Group.
Carly Kulawitz, a NYS alum and graduate of Eastman School of Music, will lead the Philharmonia Orchestral Winds group.
In addition to these changes, Susan Jimenez, a Music Educator in the Fairfield School system and accomplished cellist, will join NYS as conductor of the Prelude Orchestra.
NYS is pleased to welcome our new conductors and looks forward to continued success with these very important programs.
Visit the Programs section for more information on these ensembles and their conductors.