AYSO & AYCO First Concert of the 22-23 Season

On Sunday, November 20th, the American Youth Symphonic Orchestra (AYSO) and the American Youth Concert Orchestra (AYCO) had their first concert of the season.

American Youth Symphonic Orchestra, conducted by Glenn Quader, performed first on the concert, playing Copland’s lively “Hoe-Down,” Verdi’s dynamic “Nabucco Overture,” Gounod’s playful “Funeral March of a Marionette,” and Tchaikovsky’s sweeping “Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture.” Following intermission, the American Youth Concert Orchestra, conducted by Doug Martin, performed Bach’s rhythmic “Fugue in G minor,” Barnes’ dreamy "Yorkshire Ballad,” Beethoven’s moody “Egmont Overture,” Diemer’s modern “Youth Overture,” and Strauss’s stormy “Thunder and Lightning Polka.” The concert was a hit, boasting one of the largest AYPO audience’s in recent history.

AYP joins the NSO onstage at the Kennedy Center

Musicians from the American Youth Philharmonic (AYP) were excited to join the NSO onstage Tuesday, November 1st, performing selections from Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4 with NSO Music Director Gianandrea Noseda. Musicians then performed this work and Verdi’s Overture to La forza del destino at the first AYPO orchestra concert of the 58th season at Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center on Sunday, November 6th.

With the impact of COVID in 2020 and cancellation of all in-person events, the planned NSO side-by-side to perform Mahler, Symphony No. 5 in March 2020 was unfortunately impacted. The last time AYP had an NSO side-by-side rehearsal was in March 2018, also under the baton of NSO Conductor, Gianandrea Noseda. This year, the musicians had the amazing opportunity to join a Q&A session with Maestro Noseda before rehearsing the first two movements of the Symphony.

This was an incredible opportunity to share with the AYP musicians from the 22-23 season, and we look forward to joining the NSO onstage again in the future. AYPO is thankful to all those with the NSO, Education Department, and Kennedy Center staff to make this possible.

Symphony Spooktacular

Symphony Spooktacular was a hauntingly good time for all the ghouls and ghosts. With 40 students participating in the first annual event, our musical crew learned seven thrilling tunes that included “Rosin Eating Zombies from Outer Space,” “Devil’s Dream,” and “Spooky Twinkle.” After their pizza party, students had fun with mummy wrapping, boo-bowling, candy in the hay, and pumpkin painting. The spooktacular experience came to an end with a costumed concert for family and friends.

Happy Halloween!

AYPO Chamber Ensemble holds the first masterclass in October!

AYPO is excited that the Chamber Ensemble Masterclass #1 started the season events on October 16th at the Alexandria History Museum, Lyceum, in Alexandria, VA. A total of four masterclasses are held throughout the season. Groups from AYPO Junior Chamber Ensemble (JCE) hope to join the live coaching's later in the season. All are welcome to attend the upcoming Ensemble da Camera of Washington performances in December 2022 and March 2023. 

AYPO Welcomes an AYPO Staff Member to a New Administrative Position - Brian Seemann, Production Manager

Brian Seemann lives in Falls Church, VA, where he is the Director of Handbell Ensembles at the Landon School in Bethesda, MD. Brian previously served as Director of Special Events for Inspire Arts and Music in Boston and as the summer Tour Manager for the Jersey Surf Drum and Bugle Corps. He is a production lead for Under the Sun Productions, producing large scale pageantry events and parades such as DC's National Cherry Blossom, Memorial Day, and Independence Day Parades, the Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade, and the Chicago Magnificent Mile of Lights Parade. He is also heavily involved in the handbell community having served as an Event Chair for Handbell Musicians of America managing their yearly Distinctly Bronze events, and was on the planning committee for the 2022 International Handbell Symposium in Nashville, TN. Brian is a published composer, and has served as faculty, clinician, and conductor for handbell events around the US.

Brian has served as a production assistant for several years with AYPO, but is now paving his way in our organization as Production Manager. He will oversee all of the production assistants and manage rehearsal and concert spaces to ensure a quality experience for our AYPO events.

AYPO Welcomes A Staff Member - Melissa Schexnaydre, Orchestra Manager

Melissa Schexnaydre (shhex-neye-der) joined AYPO in September 2022 after earning her B.M.Ed in Music Education with a Vocal Primary from Longwood University, her M.A. in Elementary Education from the College of William & Mary, and finally her second M.A. in Arts Management from George Mason University. Melissa performed at the Vatican in 2010 for Pope Benedict XVI and at the 2012 London Olympics. At Longwood, she served as Music Librarian for the choral department and performed in the annual Farmville Summer Garden Opera series. She also served as the Main Stage Chair for Mortar Board, hiring artists that included Post Malone and Aer. At W&M Melissa co-taught in a 5th grade classroom in Williamsburg and post-graduation went on to serve as a Choral Director at two middle schools in Hampton, VA. At George Mason, Melissa re-founded and led the Graduate Arts Management Society, programing social and learning events in the virtual realm for the Arts Management program. She was awarded the Arts Management Leadership Award in 2022 for her time at GMU. Melissa interned with Washington Performing Arts as the Education & Community Engagement Intern, overseeing WPA’s Summer FAM series and the Feder Memorial String Competition.

As Orchestra Manager, Melissa manages the day-to-day functions of the American Youth Concert Orchestra and American Youth Symphonic Orchestra and multiple ensembles.

Melissa can be reached at mschexnaydre@aypo.org.