Application deadlines that fall during the month of April include The Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra and the Cleveland Orchestra Choruses, the Encore Chamber Music Summer Program, the Bascomb-Little Fund, the Linda and Mitch Hart Institute for Women Conductors, and Make Music Cleveland. [Read more…]
Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra to join Youth Chorus for March 4 concert
by Mike Telin
On Friday, March 4 at 8:00 pm at Severance Hall, the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra will perform what director Brett Mitchell says is the most challenging piece the orchestra has played during his tenure. “Stravinsky’s Pétrouchka is certainly a challenging undertaking even for the best of professional orchestras,” Mitchell pointed out during a telephone interview. “But I’ve been with COYO long enough to know that whatever challenge is put in front of the musicians they will, without fail, rise to the challenge. In fact, they always end up exceeding my expectations.” [Read more…]
Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra: China tour send-off concert (June 14)
by Mike Telin
On Monday morning June 15, the seventy-seven member Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra gathered at Cleveland Hopkins Airport to embark on its second international tour, traveling to China for concerts in Beijing’s Forbidden City Concert Hall (June 18), Tianjin’s Grand Theater (June 19), Shanghai’s Oriental Arts Center (June 21), and Ningbo’s Cultural Plaza Theatre (June 22). On Sunday, June 14 at Severance Hall, a large and enthusiastic audience was treated to a thrilling send-off concert when music director Brett Mitchell led his talented young musicians in works by Shostakovich, Kilar, Barber, and Tchaikovsky. [Read more…]
Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra at Severance Hall (May 3)
by Timothy Robson
There were many happy faces worn by parents and friends of the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra (COYO) members on Sunday evening, May 3, after their concert at Severance Hall. And with good reason – it was superb, and several times during the course of the evening, at least one listener had to remind himself that this was a student ensemble, not a professional orchestra. [Read more…]
Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra: a conversation with cellist Henry Shapard
by Mike Telin
“It’s more that the piece came my way rather than me actively looking for it,” cellist Henry Shapard said during a telephone conversation. “Back in the fall I sat down with my great teacher Richard Weiss and asked him what he would like me to play. I had just played Tchaikovsky’s Rococo Variations in the summer, so I expected that he would recommend something like the Dvořák. But he told me that before I did anything else, I really should work on the Kabalevsky.”
On Sunday, May 3rd at 8:00 pm in Severance Hall, Henry Shapard will perform Dmitry Kabalevsky’s Cello Concerto in g with the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra under the direction of Brett Mitchell. [Read more…]
Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra & Chorus: Ravel, Debussy & Fauré at Severance Hall (February 8)
by Daniel Hathaway
As many conductors and orchestras have learned through experience, capturing the essence and style of French music is not easy unless you’ve been blessed with Gallic genes. On Sunday evening at Severance Hall, Brett Mitchell and the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra and Chorus won honorary membership in Le Panthéon with convincing performances of challenging scores by Maurice Ravel, Claude Debussy and Gabriel Fauré.
Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra & Chorus to explore French music on February 8
by Daniel Hathaway
Having explored the music of John Adams, Roy Harris and Tchaikovsky in its first concert last November, the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra will turn to music by French composers for its Severance Hall concert on Sunday, February 8 at 7:00 p.m. The program will include Maurice Ravel’s Une barque sur l’ocean, Claude Debussy’s La mer and Gabriel Fauré’s Requiem, op. 48, featuring the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Chorus.
Speaking with music director Brett Mitchell by telephone about the February program, I noted that he’s really throwing down a challenge with this repertory. “We always do,” he replied. “The nice thing with young people is they don’t realize that what they’re taking on is going be difficult — at least until they start practicing.”
Cleveland Orchestra announces Youth Orchestra auditions
Middle- and high-school instrumentalists who study privately and are involved in their school music program are invited to audition for the 100-member Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra’s thirtieth season in 2015-2016. [Read more…]
Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra at Severance Hall (November 23)
by Jane Berkner
It was a treat to be reminded of the brightness of the orchestral world’s future on Sunday night, November 23 in Severance Hall. For that occasion, artistic director Brett Mitchell designed a terrific concert for the opening of The Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra’s 2014-2015 season. [Read more…]
Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra opens its season on Sunday, November 23
by Mike Telin
“When we held auditions this past May, it became clear that we would have a great group of players coming on board,” Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra (COYO) music director Brett Mitchell said during a recent conversation. “I just had the feeling that we were going to have a very special year.” On Sunday, November 23 at 8:00 pm in Severance Hall, Mitchell and his young players will present their first concert of the 2014-15 season. The program will feature music by John Adams, Roy Harris and Tchaikovsky.
It appears that Mitchell’s gut feeling was correct. He pointed out that once a student becomes a COYO member, they can remain a member until they graduate high school. However, the downside is that he could end up losing anywhere from a quarter to a third of his orchestra each year. “And of course the ones you lose are the most experienced players. That can present a real challenge with regard to programming.” [Read more…]