National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America
The National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America is an American youth orchestra organized by Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute. It was established in 2012, and its first concert tour took place in the summer of 2013.
Each summer, following an application and audition process, about 120 musicians ages 16 to 19 attend a two-week residency at Purchase College, New York, followed by a national or international tour.
History
In January 2012 Carnegie Hall announced the launch of the National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America. The orchestra was created by Weill Music Institute, the hall's music education and community outreach wing. The NYO-USA was set up along broadly similar lines to the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain.Organization and Administration
Supported by a faculty of principal players from professional American orchestras, the musicians' preparation during NYO-USA’s residency is overseen by the orchestra director. The current orchestra director is James E. Ross.The NYO-USA has no permanent music director and instead will be led by a different renowned conductor each summer. The inaugural guest conductor is Russian conductor Valery Gergiev.
Funding and Sponsorship
2013
| Lead Sponsor | Bloomberg |
| Lead Donors | Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Foundation and Marina Kellen French; Ronald O. Perelman; Robertson Foundation; and Joan and Sanford I. Weill and the Weill Family Foundation |
| Additional Support | Blavatnik Family Foundation; Yoko Nagae Ceschina; The Rockefeller Foundation; The Peter Jay Sharp Foundation; Ann Ziff |
| Public support | National Endowment for the Arts |
Orchestra Membership and Activities
The NYO-USA is a full symphony orchestra consisting of around 120 young musicians. Depending on the repertoire for the season it may or may not include harpists and orchestral keyboardists.Membership to the orchestra changes each year with an annual application and audition process.
Eligibility
To apply to join the NYO-USA, applicants must be between the ages of 16 and 19 years old during the summer of participation. Additionally, applicants must be United States citizens or permanent residents who are not enrolled full-time in a college-level conservatory or music department on an instrumental performance major.Applications and Auditions
Applications to join the NYO-USA are made online between the August and November preceding the summer of participation, and include a brief biographical essay, two recommendations and an audition video including a piece of choice and several excerpts. The audition video must also include spoken sequences.Applicants may apply more than once in any one year by submitting applications for more than one instrument, but respective full applications have to be made.
Former members of the NYO-USA may apply to rejoin as long as the eligibility criteria, above, are met.