The board of the Chautauqua Regional Youth Symphony (CRYS) has hired a manager to support the new opportunities planned for their students.
"We are looking forward to an exceptional season for 2012-2013," said president Tanya Anderson. She noted that rehearsals for the Chamber Orchestra, the string players of the Youth Symphony, begin on Saturday in preparation for their chamber concert on Sunday, Dec. 9, at 7 p.m. in Jamestown's Ss. Peter and Paul Church.
Newly hired manager Julia Herman will supervise rehearsals.
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Julia Herman, pictured above, recently joined Chautauqua Regional Youth Symphony as manager of all three youth orchestras, with responsibility for helping to organize the Chautauqua Weekend in February and the Pittsburgh Symphony field trip in March.
A graduate of the University of Buffalo with a master's degree from St. Bonaventure University, Ms. Herman will also arrange concert details, help organize the Youth Symphony's weekend retreat at Chautauqua Institution in February, and help plan the field trip for all the orchestras to meet the musicians and hear the Pittsburgh Symphony accompany a screening of "The Wizard of Oz" in Heinz Hall in March.
Under the leadership of music director and conductor Bryan Eckenrode, CRYS offers classical music education and performance opportunities to serious music students from elementary school through college.
Ms. Herman will also assist Maestro Eckenrode with recruiting students and scheduling ensemble performances at community events.
Rehearsals for the wind, brass and percussion players of the Youth Symphony, highly talented and motivated musicians ages 13 through 21, will begin in early January. The Young Artists Orchestra, composed of intermediate level musicians, and Prelude Strings, the beginning string orchestra, will also begin rehearsals after the holidays.
The Youth Symphony and Young Artists Orchestra rehearse on Saturday mornings and Prelude Strings on Friday afternoons. Orchestra students are selected by teacher recommendation.
All three orchestras will perform at the Spring Gala Concert, scheduled for Sunday, May 5, 2013, in the Reg Lenna Civic Center in downtown Jamestown.
For information about how your child or student can participate in the Chautauqua Regional Youth Symphony as well as to schedule ensemble presentations by these young musicians, call 664-2465, ext. 202, or visit www.CRYouthSymphony.com.