For its 50th anniversary, The New York Youth Symphony — actually, widely admired orchestra, jazz, chamber, conducting and composing programs — will celebrate with a series of concerts featuring acclaimed alumni and friends including trombonist Wycliffe Gordon, trumpeter Brian Lynch and saxophonist Phil Woods sitting in with the NYYS jazz ensemble at Dizzy’s Club and The Allen Room at Jazz at Lincoln Center.
As the most awarded youth programs of its kind in the nation, the New York Youth Symphony is recognized internationally for its innovative educational programs. NYYS gives gifted music students between 12 and 22 unparalleled opportunities to perform at venues like Carnegie Hall and The Allen Room at Jazz at Lincoln Center, and to perform and study with world-renowned artists, all tuition free. Even though some of the players’ feet don’t yet reach the ground, NYYS concerts routinely receive rapturous reviews.
The 17-member Jazz program is a group devoted to studying, rehearsing, and performing classic big band music of the 1930s and 40s. The jazz band will make its season debut at Dizzy’s Club at Lincoln Center on December 10 with a performance by trombonist Wycliffe Gordon. Other concerts include: Dizzy’s on March 18th and a May 20th performance at The Allen Room with trumpeter Brian Lynch and saxophonist Phil Woods respectively. Renowned bassist and composer Rufus Reid, who has performed with many of the jazz world’s giants including Dexter Gordon and Nancy Wilson, has been involved with NYYS for many years. He has been the head of NYYS’s Jazz Jury for the acclaimed First Music Commission program since 2002, which chooses the composers for the organization’s three jazz commissions each year.
The current Jazz music director is an award-winning artist, composer and educator Matt Holman. NYYS Jazz was launched a decade ago with the appointment of Ryan Keberle. In February 2003, the Jazz made its formal debut in Aaron Davis Hall on the campus of the City University of New York in Harlem with director Ryan Keberle, a jazz trombonist, and the legendary saxophonist Jimmy Heath as soloist. Also in 2003, the Jazz program made its Carnegie Hall debut with trombonist Slide Hampton as guest soloist. They have performed regularly in New York’s top jazz venues since its inception.
Distinguished jazz musicians who have performed with the Jazz program over the past decade include legendary saxophonists Jimmy Heath, Paquito D'Rivera, Rich Perry, Joe Lovano and Frank Wess, trumpeters Warren Vaché and Marvin Stamm, trombonists Steve Turre and Conrad Herwig, and trumpeters Scott Wendholt and Alex Sipiagin. Since its founding in 1963, the NYYS has touched the lives of more than 5000 students with its adventurous musical programming that allows the young and gifted to explore not just the classical orchestral repertoire but chamber music, jazz, conducting and composition. Beyond the superlative instruction from virtuosic musicians, the students gain valuable life skills — commitment, discipline, focus, collaboration — and friendships that last a lifetime.
2012/2013 NYYS Jazz Concert Schedule
On The Road
Monday, December 10, 2012, 7:30pm & 9:30pm
Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola, Jazz at Lincoln Center
Matt Holman, director; Wycliffe Gordon, trombone
Spotlight Re-focused
Mon, March 18, 2013, 7:30pm & 9:30pm
Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola, Jazz at Lincoln Center
Matt Holman, director; Brian Lynch, trumpet
It’s All In A Name
Monday, May 20, 2013, 7:30pm
The Allen Room, Jazz at Lincoln Center
Matt Holman, director; Phil Woods, saxophone
As the most awarded youth programs of its kind in the nation, the New York Youth Symphony is recognized internationally for its innovative educational programs. NYYS gives gifted music students between 12 and 22 unparalleled opportunities to perform at venues like Carnegie Hall and The Allen Room at Jazz at Lincoln Center, and to perform and study with world-renowned artists, all tuition free. Even though some of the players’ feet don’t yet reach the ground, NYYS concerts routinely receive rapturous reviews.
The 17-member Jazz program is a group devoted to studying, rehearsing, and performing classic big band music of the 1930s and 40s. The jazz band will make its season debut at Dizzy’s Club at Lincoln Center on December 10 with a performance by trombonist Wycliffe Gordon. Other concerts include: Dizzy’s on March 18th and a May 20th performance at The Allen Room with trumpeter Brian Lynch and saxophonist Phil Woods respectively. Renowned bassist and composer Rufus Reid, who has performed with many of the jazz world’s giants including Dexter Gordon and Nancy Wilson, has been involved with NYYS for many years. He has been the head of NYYS’s Jazz Jury for the acclaimed First Music Commission program since 2002, which chooses the composers for the organization’s three jazz commissions each year.
The current Jazz music director is an award-winning artist, composer and educator Matt Holman. NYYS Jazz was launched a decade ago with the appointment of Ryan Keberle. In February 2003, the Jazz made its formal debut in Aaron Davis Hall on the campus of the City University of New York in Harlem with director Ryan Keberle, a jazz trombonist, and the legendary saxophonist Jimmy Heath as soloist. Also in 2003, the Jazz program made its Carnegie Hall debut with trombonist Slide Hampton as guest soloist. They have performed regularly in New York’s top jazz venues since its inception.
Distinguished jazz musicians who have performed with the Jazz program over the past decade include legendary saxophonists Jimmy Heath, Paquito D'Rivera, Rich Perry, Joe Lovano and Frank Wess, trumpeters Warren Vaché and Marvin Stamm, trombonists Steve Turre and Conrad Herwig, and trumpeters Scott Wendholt and Alex Sipiagin. Since its founding in 1963, the NYYS has touched the lives of more than 5000 students with its adventurous musical programming that allows the young and gifted to explore not just the classical orchestral repertoire but chamber music, jazz, conducting and composition. Beyond the superlative instruction from virtuosic musicians, the students gain valuable life skills — commitment, discipline, focus, collaboration — and friendships that last a lifetime.
2012/2013 NYYS Jazz Concert Schedule
On The Road
Monday, December 10, 2012, 7:30pm & 9:30pm
Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola, Jazz at Lincoln Center
Matt Holman, director; Wycliffe Gordon, trombone
Spotlight Re-focused
Mon, March 18, 2013, 7:30pm & 9:30pm
Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola, Jazz at Lincoln Center
Matt Holman, director; Brian Lynch, trumpet
It’s All In A Name
Monday, May 20, 2013, 7:30pm
The Allen Room, Jazz at Lincoln Center
Matt Holman, director; Phil Woods, saxophone
