San Diego Youth Symphony and Conservatory

Back in November when our students prepared virtual performances for our Fall performance event, members of our Philharmonia Blue and Concert Winds ensembles, along with their conductor Mr. Kim chose to dedicate their performances to all our amazing frontline workers. Their creative messages and playing in the videos are awesome and, just as awesome, is the fact that those videos are now playing on the special in-hospital TV channel at Scripps Mercy Hospital Chula Vista, to show staff on a daily basis just how much they mean to us. Heartfelt thanks to all our essential and frontline workers!

Our Conservatory team is always working to create new learning opportunities that further enhance the SDYS student and parent experience. Virtual enrichment classes will be offered in February and March - check out these intriguing themes and be sure to reach out to the Conservatory staff to enroll.

Music educators are always heroes in our book. But this music teacher is going the extra mile for us all. Thank you for your service Mr. Kohut.

Our Youth Leadership Council is a youth-led group of SDYS musicians who want to get more involved, connect with other SDYS musicians, and contribute positively to the future of SDYS. The YLC has met weekly online since last spring, discussing ways to help SDYS students and staff. Right away, members wanted to find a way to thank SDYS conductors and teachers for their dedication and support as we all transitioned to learning and working from home. YLC members organized and compiled conductor appreciation videos, which were shared at our final virtual concert last June. Stay tuned for more creative projects and videos from the YLC, by our students, for our students!

Our Winter 2021 ChIMES session is now enrolling. This 8-week, virtual ChIMES@Home session (January - March) includes up to THREE 30-min interactive, live online classes each week, to serve babies/toddlers, preschoolers, and now a NEW Bilingual English/Spanish class! Learn all about our early childhood music program and enroll today on our website at sdys.org/chimes.

Our arts and cultural institutions have suffered greatly during this almost-year - but you can still "put a little love" into them so they come back stronger than ever when it's safe to do so. @Balboa Park is the San Diego Youth Symphony's historic and cultural home and we can't wait to return to normal operations, rehearsals, and performances there. Support your arts and culture providers - they need you now more than ever. https://youtu.be/KBwxNKZscs8 #BalboaPark #BPCP #BalboaParkCulturalPartnership

You're not going to want to miss this great opportunity to learn from SDYS conductors, teaching staff, and special guests from the San Diego Symphony! And yes, this event is FREE and open to all interested. Join us for our first Virtual Music Conference and choose from a variety of breakout sessions geared toward student musicians, their parents, their music teachers, and all those who love making music. Check our website for schedule and more. sdys.org/fall20conference. See you on Zoom on November 15!

Thank you to all the SDYS students who have participated in the preliminary round of the Ovation level Concerto Competition, and congratulations to our six finalists, in no particular order (but starting from left to right in the photo): Andy Yang, cello; Emma Li, flute; Nathan Haghgoo, piccolo; Lea Parseghian, violin; Janice Hu, violin; Erica Wang, flute. Honorable mention goes to Petunia Rizo, flute. From Music Director Jeff Edmons: "We are so proud of all of our SDYS musicians who are sharing their inspirational talents and achievements with us, and who all inspire us through their beautiful music." Be sure to tune in on November 1 at 5pm via Zoom to watch our finalists compete LIVE from their homes. Details for connecting will be on our website soon.

It's always fun to get a view of the behind the scenes activities that come together to make magical arts performances. Our students, conductors, and teaching artists have been gaining new skills in technology platforms to support distanced, collaborative music-making. These images are from a project being recorded and assembled by Ovation students working with Music Director Jeff Edmons using the SoundTrap platform. Chamber Orchestra and this year's new Ovation ensemble Camerata are creating a combined orchestra performance of a portion of Ravel's Bolero in preparation for our November student performance events.

How awesome are our upcoming student enrichment classes? Take a look at this great teaser video from Intro to Percussion teaching artist Mr. Ruben to find out. Students are gaining opportunities to explore new instruments, learn the fundamentals of conducting, take a deep dive into music theory, and more this Fall. There's never a dull moment in an SDYS ensemble - and mid-season auditions for new students are now open for registration through October 12. https://vimeo.com/464016261

Tune in to Liberty Station's Virtual First Friday event this evening to watch a variety of arts and culture presentations, including our own SDYS First Friday concert. Our Ovation ensembles will perform three works including Haydn’s Concerto for Cello in D Major, Op. 101, Rondo, featuring student soloist Kevin Song. View the evening's line up and tune in at 6pm to catch our concert: https://libertystation.com/events/First-Friday-ARTS-DISTRICT

Do you know a student who'd like to join SDYS? Our mid-season auditions period is now open for new student registration through October 12. SDYS' quality music education programs are available to students of all experience levels, including engaging programs for beginner musicians. Learn more and register online at sdys.org/join-sdys.

SDYS students are once again performing at Musical ArtStops at the San Diego Museum of Art. Don't miss this opportunity to enjoy incredible works of art paired with pieces that the students select themselves as accompaniment. Ovation student Dasha Zerboni performs "In the Style of Albeniz" by Rodion Schedrin to accompany the work "Specter of the Evening," by Salvador Dalí 1930.

The fall session of ChIMES@Home is under way after instrument bag distribution this past weekend. Lots of families are now enjoying "Fall Fun on the Farm" online with our talented teaching artists, along with our extensive library of video lessons. If you missed registration for our fall session, don't worry - we have more class opportunities to come!

If you attended our virtual Encore! fundraiser in May, you met SDYS student Bradford Dickson and his family in one of our video segments. We're really proud of Bradford's dedication to expanding his musical talent and range, including an original work that he composed while participating in Art of Elan's 10-week Young Artists in Harmony residency and mentorship program. Learn more and hear Bradford's composition performed by AoE musicians on YouTube: https://youtu.be/6G4RmDQxoVk

Happy Birthday, SDYS! On this day in 1945, the very first concert of the Youth Symphony Orchestra of San Diego City and County was performed in San Diego High School’s Russ Auditorium. Help us celebrate today by watching our 75th Anniversary Birthday video and enjoy a walk down SDYS’s musical memory lane.