Saint Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra
Ward Stare, Music Director
Peggy Neilson, Manager
The Saint Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra has had a significant impact on the region’s Student musicians for over 35 years. The Youth Orchestra consists of 95-100 young musicians ranging in age from 12-22. The Youth Orchestra rehearses weekly on Saturday afternoons during the school year and presents three programs a season in Powell Symphony Hall. This season we welcome new music director Ward Stare, who is also the new resident conductor for the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra.
Members of the Youth Orchestra represent more than three dozen schools throughout the St. Louis region and some from as far away as Springfield, Illinois, and Rolla, Jefferson City, and Columbia, Missouri. The Youth Orchestra members receive coaching from the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra members during the season.
Founded in 1970 by Leonard Slatkin, the SLS Youth Orchestra has been a springboard for many young musicians seeking a career in orchestral music – including some current members of the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra. There are over than 1,000 alumni now playing, teaching and in fields other than music.
In 2006, the YO performed in the Missouri State Capital Building in Jefferson City and spoke with legislators about the importance of music education. The SLSYO continues its advocacy for music education locally and state wide.
Admission to the Youth Orchestra is by annual auditions. Preliminary auditions are held in May.
For information on the Saint Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra please contact Peggy Neilson, Youth Orchestra Manager, at (314) 286-4407, at peggy@slso.org.
2008-2009 Youth Orchestra Concerts:
$14, $12, $8 purchased ahead of time. $18, $16, $10 day of concert.
Stare
Youth Orchestra
- Sunday, November 9, 2008 at 3pm
Ward Stare, conductor
BEETHOVEN Overture to Egmont
MENDELSSOHN Sinfonia No. 10 in B minor
COPLAND Appalachian Spring
DVORAK Symphony No. 9, Op. 95, E minor (From the New World)
Welcome the new YO director, Ward Stare,
for his premiere concert with the impressive
ensemble. The strings have an opportunity
to stand out in Mendelssohn’s Sinfonia
No. 10. The full orchestra gets to sink its teeth
into a robust finale: Dvorák’s celebration of
American styles, Symphony No. 9,"From
the New World".
Stare
Youth Orchestra
- Sunday, March 15, 2009 at 3pm
Ward Stare, conductor
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 8, Op. 93, in F major
Concerto TBD
ELGAR Enigma Variations, Op. 36
Haydn lavishes intricate pleasures on an
audience in his "Oxford" Symphony. Elgar
paints musical portraits of his dearest friends
in the Enigma Variations. It is like being
invited to a garden party filled with wit—and
a bit of intrigue. This season’s YO Concerto
Competition winner performs as well.
Single tickets on sale Monday, September 29 at 9am.
Stare
Youth Orchestra
- Sunday, May 3, 2009 at 3pm
Ward Stare, conductor
VERDI La forza del destino Overture
TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No. 5, Op. 64, E minor
A Verdi overture invites you into the entertainment
to come—La forza del destino opens
you to a world of romance. Tchaikovsky’s
Symphony No. 5 is as dramatic as they
come, with the troubled composer making
great music out of his anguished heart.
Single tickets on sale Monday, September 29 at 9am.