Schenectady County will soon be home to a state of the art Capital Region Youth Music Center.
Thanks to the efforts of Empire State Youth Orchestra (ESYO), along with the New York State Council on the Arts, the support of the Office of the Governor and the State Legislature, Congressman Paul Tonko, Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara, and Schenectady County Chair Gary Hughes, the now-purchased former St. Joseph’s Parish site in Schenectady will soon become a 20,000-square-foot, acoustically designed Youth Music Center situated on eight acres of land.
This visionary project has the capacity to expand access to music education for youth of all ages, including those from historically marginalized urban neighborhoods and under-resourced rural communities.
Construction is slated to kick off this week and will be led by LeChase Construction, with architectural design by Envision Architects and engineering by GPI Engineering. The facility’s acoustics are being designed by Acoustic Distinctions, with CRESA Project Management overseeing the project.
The new 20,000-square-foot center will feature custom rehearsal and recording studios, flexible performance spaces, instrument storage, and administrative offices, all designed to support year-round music education and performance. The site’s eight-acre campus will also include outdoor gathering and practice areas, allowing ESYO to host summer programs and community events.
The new Center will serve as a creative hub for young musicians across the Capital Region, where students can explore their potential, collaborate across communities, and experience the life-changing power of playing music together. Designed with young people in mind, the facility will offer state-of-the-art rehearsal and recording spaces, flexible performance areas, and a welcoming environment that nurtures both artistic growth and belonging.
For 45 years, ESYO has engaged, inspired, and empowered young people through music—while operating without a permanent home. That limitation now constrains the organization’s growth and its ability to meet increasing demand. ESYO’s tuition-free after-school program, CHIME (Creating Harmony Inspiring Musical Empowerment), currently serves 170 students, with more than 200 on a waiting list. The new facility is a critical investment that will allow ESYO to double CHIME enrollment, expand rehearsal capacity for its 14 performing ensembles, and ensure long-term stability for youth music in the Capital Region.
“I’m thrilled to join the Empire State Youth Orchestra in celebrating the launch of construction on ESYO’s new state-of-the-art music center — an inspiring project which I’ve been proud to support from the beginning. This effort is a shining example of how our communities are continuing to utilize federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to support locally directed projects that provide important resources for members of our Capital Region community.
This new facility will help bring the power of music education and the joy of participating in the arts to countless young people from neighborhoods across our region — a worthy investment in the cultural strength and mental well-being of residents here in Schenectady County and beyond. I’m so proud to lend my support to this project, and I look forward to seeing the inspiration it will bring to future generations here in our Capital Region,”
Congressman Paul Tonko (20th District)
To date, Empire State Youth Orchestra has secured more than $10 million of its $12.3 million campaign goal through a combination of public and private funding, including major support from the New York State Council on the Arts, New York State, Schenectady County, and numerous foundations and individual donors. The campaign’s final phase is now underway, with ESYO inviting community members, alumni, and arts supporters to help close the remaining $2 million gap and bring the Center for Musical Youth to life.
“This music campus is so much more than a building—it’s an investment in the creative potential of our region’s young people. For decades, ESYO has dreamed of a space that truly belongs to our students, where they can learn, collaborate, and grow together through music. With construction beginning, that dream is becoming a reality—and we can’t wait to welcome the community in!”
Rebecca Calos, Executive Director of ESYO
The final phase of the Building Harmony campaign is being led by Barry Richman, Founder of Empire State Youth Orchestra and Honorary Chair of the campaign. Richman’s vision and leadership helped establish ESYO more than four decades ago, laying the foundation for an organization that has transformed thousands of young lives through music. Now, as Honorary Chair, he is helping to rally community support to bring the Center for Musical Youth to completion and ensure that future generations of young musicians have a permanent home to learn, collaborate, and thrive.
The Capital Region Youth Music Center campus is expected to be completed in December 2026, marking the first permanent home in ESYO’s 45-year history.
Those interested in learning more or contributing can visit esyo.org/buildingharmony for details on giving opportunities, including available naming rights within the new facility.
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