St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra celebrates its milestone 50th anniversary season; opens with first of three concert on November 17

(November 4, 2019, St. Louis, MO) – This season, the St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra, part of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra family, celebrates its milestone 50th anniversary. The anniversary celebration includes concerts, special events, and a nationally-broadcast radio program featuring the ensemble.

Founded in 1970 by the SLSO’s then assistant director Leonard Slatkin, the YO is an audition-only ensemble that draws more than 100 of the most talented musicians aged 12 to 22 within a 150-mile radius of St. Louis, representing more than 40 schools each season. The YO performs three concerts of professional-level repertoire each season at Powell Hall, led by SLSO Resident Conductor Gemma New, who has been the Music Director of the YO since the 2016/2017 season.

Marie-Hélène Bernard, President and CEO of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, said, “The entire SLSO family congratulates the Youth Orchestra on its 50th anniversary. The YO is a proven training ground for the next generation of great musicians, but is a also a productive platform to develop the region’s next leaders. YO alumni have gone on to lead successful careers both within and outside the music industry and we are proud of all of their accomplishments.”

The anniversary season begins on Sunday, November 17, 2019, when the YO performs works by Rossini, John Adams, Debussy, and Shostakovich, led by New. SLSO Music Director Stéphane Denève will share the podium with New at the March 15, 2020, concert, culminating in a performance of Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances. On May 31, 2020, the YO performs its final concert of the season, joined by pianist Lara Downes and From the Top, a nationally-syndicated program on National Public Radio that showcases talented young musicians. From the Top will record the concert for future release, including performances with Downes, soloists, a chamber ensemble, and the entire YO premiering a new work composed by Conductor Laureate and YO founder Leonard Slatkin. Tickets are available now for the concerts. Free tickets are available, some restrictions apply.

Also, during the 50th season celebration, the YO will partner with many of its more than 2,000 alumni for a play-in rehearsal, open house, and free community concert on January 11, 2020, with works by Shostakovich, Sibelius, Brahms, and John Williams. The celebration continues with birthday cake and a champagne toast.

Started as an avenue for young people to mature musically, the ensemble was quickly appreciated for its high level of talent. K.G. Schuller of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch wrote following its inaugural concerts with works by Bach, Milhaud, and Copland in 1970, “The orchestra showed amazing strength for such a youthful and inexperienced organization.” In the years following the first concert, the YO embarked on a tour of Europe, performed for President Jimmy Carter, hosted student musicians from around the globe, and continued to draw capacity crowds to Powell Hall. Six former members of the YO are currently musicians with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra: Erin Schreiber, assistant concertmaster; Kristin Ahlstrom, associate principal second violin; Becky Boyer Hall, violin; Sarah Hogan Kaiser, double bass; Mark Sparks, principal flute; and Felicia Foland, bassoon.

In addition to three concerts each season, the YO offers its student musicians a well-rounded musical experience to develop participants into lifelong musicians. Youth musicians receive regular coaching and mentoring from the world-class musicians of the SLSO. Select YO members also participate in a peer-to-peer mentoring program, which pairs them with younger music students in the St. Louis area.

For more information about the St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra, or to reserve tickets to YO50 concerts, visit slso.org/en/edu/youth-orchestra/.

Calendar listings
Youth Orchestra Plays La Mer
Sunday, November 17, 2019, 3:00pm
Powell Hall, 718 N. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, MO

Gemma New, conductor

ROSSINI Semiramide Overture
John ADAMS The Chairman Dances, Foxtrot for Orchestra
DEBUSSY La Mer
SHOSTAKOVICH Festive Overture


YO50: Alumni Play-In Concert
Saturday, January 11, 2019, 3:00pm
Powell Hall, 718 N. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, MO

Kevin McBeth, conductor

SHOSTAKOVICH Festive Overture
SIBELIUS Finlandia
BRAHMS Academic Festive Overture
John WILLIAMS Star Wars Suite (Main Title)


Youth Orchestra Plays Symphonic Dances
Sunday, March 15, 2020, 3:00pm
Powell Hall, 718 N. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, MO

Gemma New, conductor
Stéphane Denève, conductor

RACHMANINOFF Symphonic Dances

Additional repertoire will be announced at a later date.


Youth Orchestra Plays From the Top
Sunday, May 31, 2020, 3:00pm
Powell Hall, 718 N. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, MO

Gemma New, conductor
Lara Downes, host and piano

This concert will be taped by From the Top for future broadcast. Repertoire will be announced at a later date.

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314-286-4134