Empire State Youth Orchestra

“ESYO’s playing . . . at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall was sometimes so extraordinary that one might have mistaken it for a professional orchestra.”
Geraldine Freedman for The Daily Gazette, Nov. 2009

“ESYO is a community of students who love music and are able to pursue their passion with other people just like them.  It’s been an outlet that has been instrumental in both my musical and personal growth.”
ESYO Musician

You may know ESYO from CBS 6′s annual Melodies of Christmas broadcasts.  But ESYO is so much more . . .

Members:
300+ highly-talented young musicians in grades 4 – 12 from more than 75 schools and home-schools in the greater Capital Region and Western New England.

Ensembles:
9 performing groups:  2 full orchestras; a wind orchestra; a string sensemble; 2 jazz ensembles; 3 percussion ensembles. Each group is conducted and coached by professional musicians.

Concerts:
Each season, ESYO ensembles collectively give about 30 public performances.  Concerts are held in prestigious venues including Carnegie Hall, Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, Ozawa Hall at Tanglewood, and Proctors Theatre.  Throughout the year, small groups give recitals at schools, nursing homes, and senior centers.