The Empire State Youth Orchestra (ESYO) will start their 2024/25 concert season with “Confluence: A Celebration of American Music” at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall on Oct. 27.
Led by Music Director, Etienne Abelin, in his third full season with ESYO, the Symphony Orchestra will perform a program of classical, jazz, and rock to celebrate American creativity. Confluence will explore the dynamic nature of the rhythms, stories, and emotions that have shaped the musical landscape of American culture.
The concert will open with Copland’s iconic Fanfare for the Common Man, and Hoe Down from Rodeo. Also on the program are Charles Ives’ The Unanswered Question, Samuel Barber’s emotionally rich Second Essay for Orchestra, and Jimi Hendrix’s legendary Purple Haze, arranged by Swiss American composer Daniel Schnyder. The blending of rock with classical traditions, highlights the concert’s title, confluence. The orchestra will perform two encores: Leonard Bernstein’s Mambo from West Side Story, capturing the vibrant cultural mosaic of America, followed by Somewhere, a poignant expression of hope and unity.
The featured alto saxophone soloist, Teresa Rodrigues, will bring her lyrical prowess to Duke Ellington’s In a Sentimental Mood, Horace Silver’s Peace, and George Gershwin’s Summertime, all arranged for orchestra and saxophone by Daniel Schnyder. Nina Shekhar’s Lumina, a vibrant contemporary work that contrasts light and dark to capture radiance also adds to the theme of confluence.These pieces between compositions by Aaron Copland, Leonard Bernstein, and Samuel Barber, create a tapestry of sound highlighting the fluidity of American music across genres.
“Flow is all about how music and emotions move, how they carry us forward, much like a river gathering energy and changing course. Our goal is to explore reaching states of flow in our rehearsals and performances, where skill, focus, and letting go merge, allowing the music to take on a life of its own. We’ll also be experimenting with creating seamless transitions between pieces during performances, so that the music flows continuously without interruption.”
Musical Director Etienne Abelin
EYSO’s calendar is full through the spring with highlights such as, the Symphony Orchestra’s collaboration with the Rensselaer Orchestra in March and April. Under the direction of Robert Whalen, they will perform Hector Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique in “Fluid Realities.” Other season highlights include an exchange of ESYO’s Youth Jazz Orchestra with the Worcester Youth Orchestras (MA), the beloved Melodies of Christmas performances, and a tour in Central Europe with concerts in Bratislava, Vienna, and Prague.
ESYO Season Schedule:
Oct. 27, 2024 | 3:00pm CONFLUENCE : A CELEBRATION OF AMERICAN MUSIC Symphony Orchestra
Nov. 3, 2024 | 7:00pm PERCUSSION ENSEMBLES
Nov. 10, 2024 | 3:00pm REPERTORY, STRING, & CONCERTINO STRINGS ORCHESTRAS
Nov. 17, 2024 | 3:00pm YOUTH & REPERTORY JAZZ
Nov. 23, 2024 | 3:00pm YOUTH JAZZ ORCHESTRA at Worcester Youth Orchestra
Dec. 9, 2024 CHIME (TBD) FLUTE CHOIR (7:30pm)
Dec. 15, 2024 | 3:00pm WIND ORCHESTRA
Dec. 15th, 2024 | 5:30pm CHAMBER & FIDDLE
Dec. 19-21, 2024 | 7:30pm and December 22 | 2:00pm MELODIES OF CHRISTMAS
Dec. 22, 2024 |7:30pm PERCUSSION ENSEMBLES
Feb. 12, 2025 | 7:00pm REPERTORY ORCHESTRA & CONCERTINO STRINGS
Feb. 13, 2025 | 7:00pm STRING ORCHESTRA & YOUTH JAZZ
Mar. 2, 2025 | 7:30pm PERCUSSION ENSEMBLES
Mar. 9, 2025 | 3:00pm WIND ORCHESTRA & REPERTORY JAZZ
Mar. 15, 2025 PLAYATHON
Mar. 22, 2025 | 3:00pm YOUTH JAZZ ORCHESTRA with Worcester Youth Jazz Ensemble
Mar. 30, 2025 | 3:00pm FLUID REALITIES: SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA featuring the Lois Lyman Concerto Competition winner
Apr. 5, 2025 | Time TBA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA with Rensselaer Orchestra
May 2, 2025 | 3:00pm REPERTORY & STRING ORCHESTRAS featuring the Lois Lyman Concerto Competition runner up
May 4, 2025 | 3;00pm CONCERTINO STRINGS, WOODWINDS & BRASS
May 9, 2025 AMPLIFY OUR VOICE CHIME CONCERT
May 11, 2025 | 3:00pm WIND ORCHESTRA
May 11, 2025 | 5:30pm CHAMBER & FIDDLE
May 18, 2025 | 4:00pm PERCUSSION ENSEMBLES
June 1, 2025 | 2-5:30pm FESTIVAL OF YOUNG ARTISTS AT SPAC
June 30 – July 9, 2025 EUROPEAN TOUR (Symphony Orchestra)
Learn more and purchase tickets here.
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