AYPO Alumnus Feature - Brian Hong, violin

A year in review -

In January 2020, the American Youth Philharmonic performed for the the first time at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, D.C. The orchestra was joined by AYPO alumnus, Brian Hong, who performed the Sibelius Violin Concerto in D Minor, Op. 47. We hope that all AYPO families and alumni enjoy seeing and hearing from alum, Brian Hong.  

Message from Brian Hong:

To all my friends and colleagues at AYPO,

As the holiday season passes, we all find ourselves in varying states of isolation. I am sure that many of you miss playing chamber music, as do I; and the world needs great music more than ever before.  In this spirit, I would like to offer you a gift of a personal chamber music concert curated for you by myself and my colleagues here at NEXUS Chamber Music Chicago, performed and recorded at Guarneri Hall.  

Program:

Giovanni Battista Viotti: String Trio in G Major

Texu Kim: "Homage to Anonymous Ancient Fiddlers"

Augusta Read Thomas: "Silent Moon" for Violin and Cello

Arcangelo Corelli: Sonata de Chiesa in B minor, Op. 3 No. 4

Zoltan Kodaly: Duo for Violin and Cello, Op. 7

The concert is interspersed with a music video and some artist profiles we filmed!  I sincerely hope you all enjoy, and I wish you all a safe and healthy holiday season.

Until we can meet again,

Brian Hong

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqLtTy4Gru4

Program:Giovanni Battista Viotti: String Trio in G Major, W. 3.15 1. Allegro vivace e risoluto 2. Andante con espressione 3. PrestoTexu Kim: "Hom...

AYSO performs its first virtual concert - December 13, 2020

Join AYSO in its first virtual concert! Conductor Glenn Quader starts the AYSO season with selections from Prokofiev's Romeo & Juliet.

A message from Conductor Glenn Quader:

Dear Parents and Friends of the AYSO, Thank you for your continued support of the AYPO and for tuning in to appreciate the amazing talents of our orchestras. It has been my honor to continue as conductor of the very capable Symphonic Orchestra. It is continually gratifying to work with these fine young musicians.

The premise of this video performance needs no explanation. Rather, what is to be celebrated are the outstanding achievements of our players in an uncharted and untested realm. Our players had to transition from honing their ensemble skills in a live rehearsal setting to becoming experts in the recording studio environment. The technological challenges alone could have easily stopped us in our tracks. Yet what you will witness and enjoy in the production is the determination of our members to uphold the exceedingly high standard they themselves have created through generations of AYPO.

None of what you will see would have been possible without the tireless work of Dr. Elliot, who secured the funding to provide weekly sessions with the incredible AYPO coaching staff. We are also indebted to Miranda Martin and Molly Schranck for their infallible savvy in keeping us operational in a virtual world. Of course the production itself is to be credited to the stunning work of Doug Wallace, whose care and artistry with our performances is something to behold.

Please sit back and enjoy the tremendous work of the AYSO, and join me in taking great pride in their overwhelming success. I hope you have a safe and happy Holiday season.

Sincerely,

Glenn Quader

Conductor - American Youth Symphonic Orchestra

Join AYP in its first ever virtual performance!

A Message from Dr. Bill Hong, AYPO Board President

We, at AYPO, are very proud to present this video of the American Youth Philharmonic's Fall Concert, as performed according to proper safety protocols, but with all the enthusiasm and skill these extraordinary young musicians can provide.

It is our hope that you'll enjoy this performance as you would any other musical event. Please send feedback to info@aypo.org.

Click the link for the AYP Concert Program https://issuu.com/americanyouthphilharmonic/docs/ayp_11.22.20_concert_program__11_

Join AYP in its first ever virtual performance, more detail here https://www.aypo.org/20-21-season-performances. Thank you!

Harp Ensemble Presents Virtual Performance Videos

The AYPO Harp Ensemble was hard at work throughout the last few months of our 2019-2020 season. Each member of the ensemble was responsible for performing their own part for some final virtual performance pieces, since the ensemble was unable to perform their final concert on the season on May 9, 2020. Check out their virtual performances of Beauty and the Beast as well as original AYPO Harp Ensemble variations on Pagageno’s Theme from Mozart’s The Magic Flute. Each member of the Harp Ensemble wrote their own variation of the theme for the Papageno Variation compilation!

AYPO Chamber Ensemble Presents Digital Project 2020

Throughout the current COVID-19 crisis, AYPO has continued to provide exceptional music education opportunities for our musicians. In late March, after the Virginia stay-at-home order was set in place, the AYPO Chamber Ensemble Program began adapting their current musical work to a digital platform. Each of the four Chamber Ensemble groups were to meet weekly with the AYPO Chamber Ensemble Directors, Claire Eichhorn, Ricardo Cyncynates, and Anna Balakerskaia for coaching sessions via Zoom. The students were also given benchmarks for each week in order to make progress on their end goal. Challenges included learning how to use the existing technology, intonation, playing musically and together, as well as handling the dramatic psychological challenges we all face during this difficult time.

AYPO happily presents the Chamber Ensemble Digital Project 2020. A culmination of a season’s hard work and a virtual adaptation of our annual final Chamber Ensemble Recital. Enjoy!

Beethoven Quintet for Piano and Winds, Op. 16
Mathuin Smith, oboe; Mira Kim, clarinet; Claire Wang, piano; Layne Parks, French horn; Gracie Moore, bassoon

Brahms Clarinet Quintet in B minor, Op. 115
Ethan Morad, clarinet; David Kirchenbauer, violin; Malva de Boor, violin; Justin Yi, viola; Romain-Olivier Gray, cello

Brahms Clarinet Trio in A minor, Op. 114
Noah Portner, clarinet; Olivia Bond, cello; Daniel Lee, piano

Debussy Sonata for Flute, Viola, and Harp
John Czekanski, viola; Helen Freeman, flute; Arwen Chandler, harp

Listen: Alumnus Brian Hong (violin) performs with AYP (January 2020)

Check out recordings from our January AYP concert with AYPO Alumnus, Brian Hong! He performed Sibelius’ Violin Concerto, Op. 47 with the American Youth Philharmonic as a guest soloist, followed by an expressive encore performance of Variations on Amazing Grace (arranged by Ning Kam).

A snippet from our interview with Brian:

Q: What is your favorite thing about performing Sibelius’ Violin Concerto, Op. 47?

A: Jean Sibelius treats the violin and orchestra differently than any other composer to my ears. Both the solo and orchestral lines intertwine and emerge from one another as a single, organic musical mass that glows with a beautifully expansive Nordic tonal palette. This piece is an exhausting emotional journey, from the frosty and angsty first movement, to the deep love poem of the second, and the triumphant, galloping heroism of the third.

AYPO performance dedication to emergency services

A special thank you to all those in emergency services across the United States and world. Please enjoy this musical performance dedication, which includes Samantha Lu (American Youth Concert Orchestra, co-concertmaster) and her family.

Notice Regarding AYPO's 20-21 Audition Process

Dear AYPO Community, 

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, AYPO has continued creative programming by providing remote digital learning experiences for our students. Traditionally, we hold our in-person auditions in early June. This year, however, we will be transitioning to a video audition process. We believe this is the best way to protect the health and safety of our students and staff. 

For the approaching 20-21 Season Auditions, we are making the following changes which we hope will ease the process for all applicants. Please read carefully, and if you have questions do not hesitate to send an email to auditions@aypo.org.

1. We will not host live, in-person auditions in June. AYPO will require a video submission of your prepared audition materials, due Monday, June 1, 2020. Instructions on how to submit a video audition can be found here. 

2. We are currently in the process of developing online auditions support for any who feel the need for additional advice and guidance. We will post more information on the website as soon as it is available.

3. New percussion applicants, please see updated audition excerpts here. 

4. Current (19-20) flute, harp, clarinet, percussion, and chamber ensemble participants, please see the information in your weekly emails regarding your specific audition process. 

5. If you have an extenuating circumstance (e.g. you do not have access to your audition instrument or equipment to make a video), please write to auditions@aypo.org. 

We will be in frequent touch with our AYPO community throughout the remainder of the season in regards to any updates considering auditions. Stay healthy!  

Sincerely,

AYPO Administrative & Artistic Staff

AYPO Flute Ensemble E-Performs Somewhere Over the Rainbow

The AYPO Flute Ensemble, led by Dr. Laura Kaufman Mowry, has been working hard rehearsing their music while simultaneously practicing social distancing during the COVID-19 outbreak. The musicians from the Flute Ensemble have all worked separately on their parts preparing an e-performance of Somewhere Over the Rainbow.

Enjoy and stay healthy!

AYPO Update on Season Events

Dear AYPO Staff, Parents and Students,

I am sure that you have all been watching the announcement from the Governor of Virginia, Ralph Northam, stating that all schools will remain closed until the end of the academic year. Needless to say, this is news we were hoping never to hear! I want to give you a positive message from AYPO.

All sorts of programs are being severely impacted by the current crisis, and we are no exception as now all AYPO rehearsals and performances are cancelled for the remainder of the season. As you know, the Artistic Staff is putting its creative minds to finding effective ways to maintain the momentum of our activity for the students. I urge every student and parent to take full advantage of what is offered. Online learning is now the message we all carry, and I am delighted by the creativity of our staff in finding ways to stay in contact with their ensembles and orchestras. Of course it is not the same as having in-person weekly contact, but we will all learn valuable lessons from this enforced experience. Our greatest asset is our extraordinarily gifted and committed staff, and our gifted students and engaged parents. Together we will weather this and bounce back in September. 

New details are being refined for video auditions for next season. We are also aiming to assist any who would like guidance in preparing their audition (and those who may be temporarily unable to work with their private teacher). When we have the full details worked out over the next few days, we will let you know.

Meanwhile, I encourage those of you already in the program to send in your application for audition as soon as possible. Our numbers have been climbing each year, so the sooner we receive your application, the sooner we can get ahead with planning the adjudication of the entries. 

There have been some outstanding successes this season, and more were in the pipeline, but they will be carried forward to next season. Make sure that you are with us to benefit!

Please be in touch with me, or my colleagues to answer any questions or concerns you might have. In the meantime, stay safe and healthy.

Sincerely,

Graham Elliott 
Executive Director

AYPO Chamber Ensemble Program Returns to the State Department

We congratulate members of our award-winning Chamber Ensemble program for another successful performance at the U.S. State Department on Wednesday, March 11, 2020. This was their second appearance there this season. Dr Sonya Kim, the concert organizer at the State Department, wrote :

“The Ensembles of the AYPO gave terrific performances today at the  State Department. The audience was very pleased to hear highly talented and achieved young musicians. They learned how diligently the young musicians practiced for this level of performance. We thank the orchestra leadership as well.”

She went on to offer a standing invitation for groups to play for them.