Los Angeles has gained an exciting addition to its classical music scene with the formation of the Young Artists Symphony Orchestra (YASO) led by Artistic Director Alexander Treger, noted conductor, music educator and former Concertmaster of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. The new orchestra, whose mission is to champion, train, mentor and inspire the next generation of outstanding young musicians for professional careers in classical music, launches its inaugural 2015-16 season with four concerts at UCLA’s Royce Hall, the orchestra’s home venue, including an opening night celebratory concert featuring Mahler’s seminal Symphony No. 2 in C minor, “Resurrection,” hailed as “one of the musical touchstones of our time” (The New York Times), on Sunday, October 11, 2015, 7 pm.
“I am extremely proud to serve as the Artistic Director of this remarkable new orchestra,” says Treger. “I am passionate about working with exceptional young musicians on the threshold of their professional careers, and Young Artists Symphony Orchestra will serve a vital role in training the next generation of artists while enriching the community with a series of compelling live concerts presented free to the public at Royce Hall.”
Treger, whose conducting has been hailed as “vivid” (The New York Times), “uplifting” (Musical America) and “expertly finessed” (Examiner), previously served as Music Director of the American Youth Symphony for 17 years. He has been recognized as a “gifted teacher” (Lancer Radio) and applauded for leading “exciting, exuberant performances…that allow the spirited excitement of the players to shine through” (Out West Arts).
“We are very excited to have developed a dedicated team and established a strong infrastructure that has enabled the Young Artists Symphony Orchestra to come to fruition and will foster its success in the years to come,” states YASO Chair Ellen Whittier. “It is truly extraordinary to have an artist of the caliber of Maestro Treger serve as Artistic Director. He is a stellar conductor, violinist and teacher who brings to the Young Artists Symphony Orchestra a wealth of professional experience and leadership. We are deeply honored to have him at the orchestra’s artistic helm.”
The orchestra, comprised of dedicated young artists ages 15 to 26 and drawn from a variety of schools and conservatories around the Southland, adheres to the high standards and protocols of professional orchestras, providing the orchestra members with the same type of experiences they will encounter as professional artists. YASO members, who received a generous stipend for their services, are selected through a rigorous audition process. They perform key works that are an essential part of the core orchestral repertoire and are held to extremely rigorous standards since many of its members will be auditioning directly into professional ensembles.
“Our artists have honed their instrumental skills for years,” states Treger. “But it is also essential for them to have practical experience in an orchestral setting. Our goal is to prepare YASO musicians in a focused and supportive environment for the challenges and rigors of ensemble performance of the highest echelon.”
In addition to the inaugural concert on October 11, Young Artists Symphony Orchestra 2015-16 season includes performances on Sunday, December 6, 2015, Sunday, February 28, 2016, and Saturday, April 23, 2016, with such featured repertoire as Bartók’s Concerto for Orchestra, Dvořák’s Symphony No. 7 in d minor, Lutoslawski’s Little Suite, Wagner’s Siegfried Idyll , and John Adams’ The Chairman Dances.
In addition to Whittier, YASO board members include Ethan Brown, the founder of Brown, Neri & Smith LLP, a boutique law firm focused on business litigation, and Amjad Khan, a partner at the law firm. The YASO advisory committee includes esteemed cellist Ronald Leonard and internationally recognized pianist Norman Krieger. Henry Shin is Associate Conductor.
Young Artists Symphony Orchestra is sponsored by the Whittier Educational Foundation, established in 2000 by Ron and Ellen Whittier to support the training and development of young people, leading them to successful professional careers.
For information on Young Artists Symphony Orchestra, including its audition details and concert schedule, please visit YASOLA.org or call (310) 593-9890.
