Metropolitan Youth Symphony
Metropolitan Youth Symphony is a youth orchestra organization in Portland, Oregon, U.S.
Founded in 1974 by Lajos Balogh with just a handful of students, it is now one of the largest youth orchestra groups in the country. It has about 500 students, twelve conductors and fourteen ensembles with multiple experience levels.[1][2] The symphony accepts young musicians of school ages kindergarten through early college and all levels of experience. The primary goal is to challenge students to learn and perform music in a friendly and rewarding atmosphere.
Metropolitan Youth Symphony's current Music Director is Costa Rican-born conductor and violinist Raúl Gómez.
MYS ensembles include:
- Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Raúl Gómez
- Symphonic Band, conducted by Patrick Murphy
- Concert Orchestra, conducted by Jeffrey Peyton
- Sinfonietta Orchestra, conducted by Giancarlo Castro D'Addona
- Vivaldi Strings, conducted by Brian Quincey
- Concert Band, conducted by Cynthia Plank
- Baroque Strings, conducted by Adam LaMotte
- Interlude Orchestra, conducted by Nita Van Pelt
- Overture Strings, conducted by Marian Gutiérrez
- Jazz Ensemble, conducted by Ryan Meagher
- Jazz Band, conducted by Greg McKelvey
- MYSfits String Ensemble, conducted by Raúl Gómez
- MYSticks Percussion Ensemble, directed by Michael Roberts
Metropolitan Youth Symphony ensembles present a dozen public concerts each year in the Portland metropolitan area.[3] In addition, it serves schools throughout Oregon with an outreach music program that visits up to twenty public schools each year.[4]
References
- Dot Rust (September 29, 2011). "Balogh, founder of the Metropolitan Youth Symphony, steps down as Music Director". Oregon Music News. Archived from the original on May 14, 2012. Retrieved 2012-02-14.
- "David Ludwig Elected to Board of Metropolitan Youth Symphony". Farleigh Wada Witt. November 1, 2011. Retrieved 2012-02-14.
- "MYS Concerts Metropolitan Youth Symphony". playmys.org. Retrieved 2016-01-18.
- "School Outreach Concerts Metropolitan Youth Symphony". playmys.org. Retrieved 2016-01-18.