JAMESTOWN - Under the leadership of Music Director and Conductor Bryan Eckenrode, the Chautauqua Regional Youth Symphony (CRYS) has begun its 26th season of offering classical music education and performance opportunities to serious music students from elementary school through college.
Rehearsals start the first week in January for all three CRYS orchestras: Prelude Strings for beginning string musicians, Young Artists Orchestra (YAO) for intermediate string, brass, wind and percussion players, and the Youth Symphony, CRYS's premier performance group of highly talented and motivated high school and college musicians.
Beginning Jan. 4, Prelude Strings rehearses on Friday afternoons on the Lutheran campus on Falconer Street in Jamestown. The Young Artists Orchestra and Youth Symphony rehearse on Saturday mornings in the Reg Lenna Civic Center in downtown Jamestown, beginning January 5.
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Rehearsals begin soon for all three Chautauqua Regional Youth Symphony orchestras. In March, the young musicians will take a trip to Pittsburgh for a meet-and-greet with members of the Pittsburgh Symphony before the orchestra accompanies a screening of The Wizard of Oz in Heinz Hall. Conductor Bryan Eckenrode (seated) is shown here performing a cello solo during the Youth Symphony string players’ recent Chamber Concert at SS. Peter and Paul Church in downtown Jamestown.
Next March, CRYS students will take a trip to Pittsburgh where they will have a meet-and-greet with members of the Pittsburgh Symphony before the orchestra accompanies a screening of The Wizard of Oz in Heinz Hall.
In April, Youth Symphony musicians will participate in a weekend of concentrated coaching, rehearsing, and fun at Chautauqua Institution.
All three orchestras will perform at the Spring Gala Concert on Sunday, May 5 in the Reg Lenna Civic Center in downtown Jamestown.
Orchestra students are selected by teacher recommendation. Rehearsals are supervised by CRYS manager Julia Herman, who also assists Maestro Eckenrode with recruiting and scheduling ensemble performances at community events.
For information about how your child or student can participate in the Chautauqua Regional Youth Symphony as well as to schedule ensemble presentations by these young musicians, call (716) 664-2465, ext. 202, or visit www.CRYouthSymphony.com.
