Every summer, Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute brings together dazzling up-and-coming musicians for its trio of youth ensembles: the National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America (NYO-USA), NYO2, and NYO Jazz. Teen instrumentalists from across the nation audition to be part of these free, rigorous training programs that culminate in performances on illustrious stages around the globe.
Even after more than a decade of nurturing the next generation of world-class musicians, the experience never gets old, thanks to new partnerships and destinations. Following their concerts at Carnegie Hall (NYO-USA on July 20, NYO Jazz on July 26, and NYO2 on July 27), the groups embark on overseas tours, including inaugural visits by NYO-USA to Japan as part of a larger tour to Asia, NYO2 to Europe, and NYO Jazz to Latin America. While this summer’s stats are impressive—the 208 young participants hail from 40 states plus the District of Columbia and Guam—the stories these talented teenagers share are even more inspiring.
“Last year, my twin sister was part of NYO2—she loved it so much, she insisted I apply,” says Emily Alexander, a 17-year-old from Minneapolis, Minnesota, who began playing cello alongside her sibling at age four. Last August, she watched in awe as her twin, Sophia, performed during a World Orchestra Week concert at Carnegie Hall. “I was so impressed with the way the musicians moved together, as if they were one being,” she recalls. “I was also moved by seeing how much fun they were having while making such incredible music.”
Since Sophia is in NYO-USA this year and Emily is in NYO2, the twins won’t be playing together like they do back home. But they are looking forward to comparing notes after their respective tours. “I have never interacted with musicians in another country before,” enthuses Alexander about participating in NYO2’s first European concerts and workshops, which take place in Scotland as part of the iconic Edinburgh International Festival. “I am incredibly excited to connect with them.”
The feeling is mutual. “I am always inspired to witness the next generation of musicians bring such fresh energy and new perspectives to orchestral music,” says Nicola Benedetti, a renowned violinist who is currently serving as the festival’s director. “We are proud to offer a platform to these outstanding young American instrumentalists—a diverse group of talents whose artistry and spirit reflect the future of classical music.”
That’s a future Carnegie Hall is proud to help foster through these orchestras. “NYO-USA is more than just an ensemble, it’s an experience,” raves Matias Vidal-Russell, an 18-year-old trombonist from Boise, Idaho, who returns to the ensemble for his second year. “The enthusiasm everyone has for the music, for learning, for getting better is invigorating. I made so many friends from all across the country that whenever I travel to a city for an audition or a college visit, I always have somebody to give me an impromptu tour or offer to let me sleep in their dorm. It really makes you realize everyone in this music community is just a few connections away. I already know this will be one of the best summers of my life.”
That last statement hits home for Clive Gillinson, Carnegie Hall’s longtime executive and artistic director. As a cellist and alum of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, he knows firsthand how transformative these programs are—in fact, that’s what put him on the path to where he is today. He notes how this summer’s crop of young talent “represents the best of America as both musical performers and cultural ambassadors."
Fellow cellist and president of Suntory Hall Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi echoes that sentiment. “NYO-USA symbolizes Carnegie Hall’s DNA and reminds us of the fundamental joy of music—I hope the passion of these young musicians makes an enormous impression on the Japanese audience.”
Minji Kim is particularly proud to be part of that legacy. “NYO-USA gave me the courage to try new things without fear,” says the 18-year-old violinist from Ann Arbor, Michigan, a returning participant who will attend the prestigious Columbia-Juilliard Program in the fall. While she’s thrilled the ensemble will play its inaugural concerts in Japan at Osaka’s Symphony Hall and Tokyo’s Suntory Hall, the last stop on NYO- USA’s tour of Asia at the Seoul Arts Center in Korea is particularly meaningful. “I will be going to my mother country as a musician, representing the United States for the first time,” she explains. “When I was little, I frequented the Seoul Arts Center as an audience member. Now I will be performing there myself. Returning to the place where I first met music will be a truly precious experience.”
For some participants, these tours provide their first exposure to travel outside America. Not only do these trips enhance their music skills, but they also expand their horizons. “NYO Jazz gave me newfound appreciation for the experiences I have had and fostered my curiosity for cultures around the world,” explains Jordan Klein, an 18-year-old trombonist from Agoura Hills, California, who returns to NYO Jazz for a second time. He is thrilled about NYO Jazz’s inaugural visits to Brazil and the Dominican Republic because these tours are “the only times I leave the United States, and to do so through music is very special to me.”
To encapsulate the program’s life-changing effect, he cites a “both beautiful and deeply sad moment” from last summer’s NYO Jazz stint in South Africa when he visited the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg. “Learning about the country’s history made our performances feel extremely impactful,” he says. “Each show we played provided people with the opportunity to come together, to leave their worries at the door, and enjoy a couple hours of music. Race, gender, religion, etc. were completely irrelevant and had nothing to do with how the music made people feel. This collective experience of sharing art with a group of people was so fulfilling for me and has helped me understand why I want to devote my life to playing music.”
