National Youth Orchestra: From Weill to Weill

The National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America, founded last summer at the Weill Music Institute of Carnegie Hall, is heading to Green Music Center's Weill Hall for a concert on Aug. 2, as part of its much-acclaimed international tour. (Weill Institute and Weill Hall are both beneficiaries of Sanford Weill's support.)

Unlike most youth orchestras, the National enjoys the collaboration (and tutelage) of major figures in music. The ensemble's first concerts were conducted by Valery Gergiev, the current tour is led by David Robertson, and the soloist is Gil Shaham. The orchestra has 120 members (including 24 returnees), ages 16 to 19, representing 35 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.

Carnegie Hall's Synneve Carlino talked to young musicians from the Bay Area about their participation in the project; 17-year-old viola player Josephine Stockwell from El Sobrante says:

With NYO, it's a remarkable experience to just be around all these great musicians, all of the time. In some ways, this time has felt like a closing and then an opening of doors for me in terms of how it has inspired me to elevate my own playing. I learn so much from my peers in the orchestra: by playing alongside them, listening, and even just by watching all of them. And it's been in an environment that is so down-to-earth and supportive which is great.

It's also been incredible to have the chance to work with artists like Gil Shaham and David Robertson. With David Robertson, it's moving to see how emotionally engaged he gets in the music. At Tanglewood, we were performing the Britten concerto and there was a spot at the end of the piece where he became clearly emotional in a way that hadn't happened at the other performances. I personally can get emotional while listening to music, but not usually when I'm actually playing because I'm too focused on what I'm doing. In that moment with him, I couldn't help but get teary, along with others around me. It felt like such a unifying moment for the orchestra.

And from 16-year-old cellist Oliver Herbert of San Francisco:

For me, it's been inspiring to work with all of these players from across the country who are performing at such a high level. It's special to have been selected to represent young musicians from across the U.S., and to have the opportunity to perform in so many great venues.

As part of the tour thus far, playing in Carnegie Hall was very special to me. It was my first time playing in the hall. I remember, after the cut-off of the last notes of Pictures at an Exhibition how well the audience received it — it was like a big wave of energy coming toward us on to the stage. It was moving and, as I walked off, I couldn't help but think of all of the great musicians who performed on that stage and feel a little emotional. It's a moment I'll always remember.

The program in Weill Hall includes Bernstein's Symphonic Dances from West Side Story, Britten's Violin Concerto (with Shaham), Samuel Carl Adams' Carnegie-Hall-commissioned Radial Play, and the Mussorgsky-Ravel Pictures at an Exhibition.