ElCaminoYouth Symphony

2017–2018Celebrating Our 55thSeason!

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Fiona Tsang, celloCassandra May, violin

Broadcasting Symphony, the National Opera and Ballet Theater of China, and the ShanghaiSymphony. Dr. Cai is an accomplished authorand scholar and his latest book, Beethoven inChina, co-authored with Sheila Melvin, is now in release from Penguin Books.

Young people are full of curiosity and

if they enjoy the learning process,

they will be happy, work harder,

and perform better. It is also

important to challenge young people and

to raise the bar of their own expectations —

always making sure that we help them to

meet these. Their experience working in the

ECYS should help them to grow as individuals,

become disciplined and responsible,

gain confidence, and build a life-long

relationship with classical music.

Dr. JINDONG CAI

From Berlioz’s sweeping, passionateSymphonie Fantastique, which charts

the artist’s downward spiral suffering from unrequited love and obsession, to Gershwin’s uplifting and jazzy exhibition for piano Rhapsody in Blue,some of the most celebrated works fromorchestral repertoire form the core of our55th Season!

On October 28, Maestro Cai and the Senior Symphony take us on a journeyfrom the lofty heights of love to the lowestdepths of despair with Berlioz at the Season Opener Concert.

Let’s go ”Some-where, Over the Rainbow”and to a galaxy far, faraway! Come in from thecold for an afternoonmovie music matinee. The December 10 Holiday Pops Concertfeatures favorite themes

2 Cover: Emily Kao, cello, Ryan Su, cello, & Hyunwoo Roh, clarinet 3

Welcome to the 55th Seasonof El CaminoYouthSymphony!

Maestro Jindong Cai received his early musical training in China, where he learned toplay the violin and piano. He came to the UnitedStates in 1985 and earned his graduate degreesat the New England Conservatory and the College-Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati. In 1989, he was selected to study with famedconductor Leonard Bernstein at the TanglewoodMusic Center, and won the Conducting Fellow-ship Award at the Aspen Music Festival in 1990and 1992.

Jindong Cai joined the Stanford Universityfaculty in 2004 as the first holder of the GretchenB. Kimball Director of Orchestral Studies’ Chairand Associate Professor of Music in Performance.

Currently he is the Artistic Director of theStanford Pan-Asian Music Festival, which hefounded in 2005. In 2016, he was named ArtisticDirector of the National Youth Orchestra of China(NYO-China). He has held positions as assistantconductor with the Cincinnati Symphony and the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra. He hasconducted in China including the China National

from the silver screen, including Disneyclassics, Star Wars, Wizard of Oz, and 007!

Premiered last year with the Oakland Symphony, ECYS is honored to bethe first youth symphony to perform VanAnh Vo’s Lullaby for a Country at the February10 Lunar New Year Celebration Concertwiththe composer herself as soloist!

Accomplished pianist Taylor Eigsti,an exciting performer and Bay Area son, and Maestro Michael Morgan of the Oakland Symphony join ECYS for the All-American Benefit Concert on April 7!

O fortuna! A collaboration with Masterworks Choraleand Ragazzi Boys Chorusbrings Orff’s epic Carmina Burana, depicting medieval revelry and the pleasuresof life, to the stage for theJune 2 Season Finale!

Dr. JindongCai, MusicDirector&Conductor

Maestro Jindong Cai

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AuditionsEl Camino Youth Symphony is comprised of over 450 young musicians, ages 6–20, from all across the Bay Area. ECYS offers six ensembles: the preparatory orchestras, including Chamber Players, Camerata, Galbraith Honor Strings, and El Camino WindOrchestra where beginning and intermediateplayers hone and develop their skills, to the advanced Sinfonietta and Senior SymphonyOrchestras, where students are challenged by professional level repertoire.

Most applicants for membership areheard in the spring for the new season.However, individual audition appointmentsare made year-round, based upon openingsin the program. Candidates must study witha private teacher and should have at leastone year of lessons to be considered forplacement. Interested musicians are invitedto apply online at ecys.org/auditions.

Ryan Su Sinfonietta Spring Dance

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Membership & Solo Opportunities

Solo CompetitionsEvery year, ECYS holds two solo competitions for highly motivated musicians wishing to challenge themselves through development of talent, character, confidence, and leader-ship skills. The Winners (featured on the pages of this brochure) are chosen to performwith the Senior Symphony, Sinfonietta, orPreparatory Ensembles, as appropriate.

The All-ECYS Competition is for all orchestral instruments, excluding piano, and is open only to current ECYS members.

The Piano Concerto Competition is open to ECYS members and non-members,ages 6–18.

Applications for the 2018 solo competitions are due March 8, 2018.

For more information, visit:ecys.org/solocompetitions

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Jessica Li

Van Anh Vo

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Lunar New YearCelebration Concert! SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2018, 7:30 pm

Flint Center at De Anza College21250 Stevens Creek Blvd, Cupertino

Celebrate the Lunar New Year with the Senior Symphony, Dr. Jindong Cai, Conductor, and special guest, Van Anh Vo performing her original composition Lullaby for a Country.

Inspired by lullaby tunes from across Vietnam, Lullaby for a Country is comprised of four movements: Love, Yearning, Sorrow, and New Dawn. It evokes the common themes of providing comfort and encouragement to children and longing for loved ones.

Taigu is the Chinese pronunciation of the Japanese Taiko (fat drum). The Rhyme of Taigu is a lively and powerful work; the strings and brass are an extension of the percussion section, pulsating with the pounding of the drums.

The spectacular East meets West program also features the Sinfonietta Orchestra, John Eells Conductor, and young artistsZhouran (Simon) Tao and Jessica Li.

BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 5 (“Emperor”),Mvt. I, Zhouran (Simon) Tao, soloist

GrIEG Piano Concerto in A minor, Mvt. I, Jessica Li, soloist

VAN ANH VO Lullaby for a CountryZHOU LONG The Rhyme of Taigu

Tickets: $25/15 available at Ticketmaster.com (Service fees may apply)

Zhouran (Simon) Tao

Taylor Eigsti

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A Celebration of American ComposersAnnual Benefit ConcertDr. Jindong Cai, Conductor

Icons in the arena of popular composition, Gershwin, Bernstein,

and Copland brought the American experience to life through their vibrantand unforgettable music. George Gershwin’s jazzy and exuberant Rhapsody, has become one of the most recognized and beloved American concert works of all time.Leonard Bernstein’s update to the Bard’s Romeo and Juliet places the star-crossed lovers in New York City where rival gangs rumble on the West Side. And Aaron Copland’s patriotic masterpiece, honoring the sixteenth President, weaves traditional folk tunes with original material to paint a hopeful Portrait of the “magnificent spirit of our country.”

Joining the Symphony for Rhapsody in Blue is Bay Area native and award-winning pianist Taylor Eigsti. Mr. Eigsti has performed with some of the mostcelebrated names in jazz.

Performing the role of Narrator for Lincoln Portrait isMaestro MichaelMorgan, Conductor of the Oakland Symphony.

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SATURDAY, April 7, 2018, 7:30 pmFlint Centerat De Anza College21250 Stevens Creek Blvd, Cupertino

GErSHWIN Rhapsody in Blue, Taylor Eigsti, piano

BErNSTEIN “Symphonic Dances” from West Side Story

COPLAND Lincoln Portrait, Michael Morgan, narrator

ECYS will also debut a commissioned work by composer MArK VOLKErTto mark this special occasion.

Tickets: $38/28 available at Ticketmaster.com (Service fees may apply)

Michael Morgan

Senior Symphony

Dr. Jindong Cai,Music Director &

Conductor

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SEASON OPENER CONCERTSATURDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2017, 7:30 pmFlint Center at De Anza College, 21250 Stevens Creek Blvd, CupertinoDVORAK Carnival OverturePROKOFIEV Piano Concerto No. 1, Kameron Duncan, soloistBERLIOZ Symphonie Fantastique

HOLIDAY POPS CONCERTSUNDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2017, 2:30 pmCalifornia Theatre, 345 South First Street, San JoseA “movie matinee” highlighting beloved themes from the silver screen!Featuring Young Artists Cassandra May, violin & Fiona Tsang, cello. Please visit ecys.org for the complete program.

BAY AREA YOUTH ORCHESTRA FESTIVALSUNDAY, JANUARY 14, 2018, 3:00 pmDavies Symphony Hall, San FranciscoYouth orchestras from around the Bay Area convene at Davies Symphony Hall for an afternoon of music-making! Tickets available at sfsymphony.org to benefit homeless youth.

LUNAR NEW YEAR CELEBRATION CONCERTSATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2018, 7:30 pmFlint Center at De Anza CollegeTickets: $25/15. For complete details, see pages 6 – 7!

ANNUAL BENEFIT CONCERTSATURDAY, APRIL 7, 2018, 7:30 pmFlint Center at De Anza College

Celebrating American Composers!Featuring Grammy-nominated jazz pianist Taylor Eigsti& Oakland Symphony Conductor Michael Morgan. Tickets: $38/28. For complete details, see pages 8– 9!

SEASON FINALE CONCERTSATURDAY, JUNE 2, 2018, 7:00 pmFlint Center at De Anza CollegeELGAR Cello Concerto in E minor, Mvts. I & II, Emily Kao, soloistMOZART Flute Concerto in G major, Mvt. I, Anwesha Mukherji, soloistSMETANA The MoldauORFF Carmina Burana, Ragazzi Boys Chorus& Masterworks Chorale

All Flint Center tickets are available at Ticketmaster.com (Service fees may apply). All ticketsare $15/8 with the exception of the Lunar New Year, Annual Benefit, and Bay Area Youth Orchestra Festival concerts. Check ecys.org for special free ticket offers

Anwesha Mukherji Symphony

Season FinaleConcert

Kameron Duncan

Fiona Tsang

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Central Europe Tour 2017

In the Summer of 2017, the Senior Symphony toured

and performed in the most prestigious and celebrated

halls of Central Europe! The enchanting program

included Rachmaninoff’s romantic Symphonic Dances,

Shostakovich’s Festive Overture, and the soaring

Tchaikovsky Violin Concertowith San Francisco Symphony

violinist David Chernyavsky. Armed with an arsenal

of rousing encore pieces, the orchestra received standing

ovations in every venue, from Smetana Hall in Prague,

Slovak Radio Hall in Bratislava, Béla Bartók National

Concert Hall in Budapest, and the incredible Golden Hall

at the Musikverein in Vienna.

The Symphony at Schönbrunn Palace Gardens, Vienna, Austria

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Hyunwoo RohSinfonietta March Festival

Sinfonietta OrchestraJohn Eells, Conductor

FALL CLASSIC CONCERTSATURDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2017, 7:30 pmMenlo-Atherton Performing Arts Center555 Middlefield Rd, Atherton

BEETHOVEN Overture to Consecration of the HouseCOPLAND Music from Our TownHAYDN Symphony No. 104 (“London Symphony”)SCHUMANN Piano Concerto in A minor, Mvt. I,

Joey Zhu, soloist

LUNAR NEW YEAR CELEBRATION CONCERTSATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2018, 7:30 pmFlint Center at De Anza College, 21250 Stevens Creek Blvd, CupertinoTickets: $25/15. For complete details, see pages 6 – 7!

MARCH FESTIVAL CONCERTSATURDAY, MARCH 17, 2018, 7:30 pmSmithwick Theatre at Foothill College12345 El Monte Rd, Los Altos HillsMENDELSSOHN Hebrides Overture (“Fingal’s Cave”)VAUGHAN WILLIAMS English Folk Song SuiteWEBER Clarinet Concerto No. 2, Mvt. I,

Hyunwoo Roh, soloistCHOPIN Grande Polonaise Brilliante,

Vivian Wang, soloistDELIBES “Waltz” and “Czardas” from CoppeliaTCHAIKOVSKY “Waltz” from Sleeping Beauty

SPRING DANCE CONCERTSATURDAY, MAY 12, 2018, 7:30 pmVisual and Performing Arts Center at De Anza College21250 Stevens Creek Blvd, CupertinoWEBER Overture to OberonMENDELSSOHN War March of PriestsELGAR Cello Concerto in E minor, Mvt. IV,

Ryan Su, soloistSCHUBERT Symphony No. 6

All tickets are $15/8 with the exception of the Lunar New Year Concert.

John Eells, Conductor of the Sinfonietta Orchestra, received

his undergraduate degree from YorkUniversity in England and completed

his graduate work in conducting at theroyal Academy of Music in London. He

also achieved a Graduate Diploma in French Horn. Mr. Eells was

the founding Music Director of the Farmington Valley Symphony

Orchestra (FVSO), which he directedfrom 1981 until 2013, and the rhode

Island Philharmonic Community Orchestra, which he led from 2006–

2013. In 2006 the FVSO celebrated its25th anniversary with a performance

at Carnegie Hall. In 2003, 2011 and2017 he was selected to conduct the

New England High School Festival Orchestra and he was a frequent guest

conductor with the Hartford (CT) Symphony

Orchestra. He alsoserved as Music

Director to threeopera companies

in Connecticut and Massachusetts.

Vivian Wang

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Preparatory Orchestras

Galbraith Honor Strings

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Galbraith HonorStrings, Conducted by Mariya Borozina

Chamber Players & Camerata Orchestras,Conducted by Dr.Michail Gelfandbein

El Camino WindOrchestra, Conducted by Dr. Richard Roper

Dr. Michail Gelfandbeinreceived his PhD at theLeningrad Conservatory ofMusic under M. Rostropovich,with post-graduate study in conducting with I. Musin,and served as Principal Cellist of the Leningrad Philharmonic for 25 years.

Mariya Borozinagraduated from The GnessinsSchool of Music in Moscow, Russia. She went on to complete a violin performancedegree at the Moscow Conser-vatory, and a postgraduate de-gree at the Manhattan School of Music. Ms. Borozina playsfirst violin at the San FranciscoOpera and San Francisco Ballet orchestras.

Dr. Richard Roperholds degrees from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Yale School of Music, and the University of Maryland.Committed to arts education, Dr. Roper serves on the faculties at Santa Clara University, UC Santa Cruz, and College of SanMateo. He also directs the BrassEnsemble and teaches trumpet at the San Francisco Conserva-tory of Music Pre-College department.

FALL CONCERT SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2017Heritage Theatre,1 W. Campbell Ave, Campbell1:00 pm Chamber Players & Camerata Orchestras2:45 pm El Camino Wind Orchestra & Galbraith Honor Strings Featuring young artist Ashley Huang, piano

WINTER CONCERT SUNDAY, MARCH 4, 2018, 5:30 pmPalo Alto JCC, 3921 Fabian Way, Palo AltoChamber Players & Camerata Orchestras, El Camino Wind Orchestra & Galbraith Honor StringsFeaturing young artist Claire Yuh, piano

TALENT “A LA MODE” ICE CREAM SOCIAL CONCERT!SUNDAY, MAY 13, 2018, 5:30 pmPalo Alto JCCChamber Players & Camerata Orchestras, El Camino Wind Orchestra & Galbraith Honor StringsFeaturing young artist Momoka Yanagisawa, violin

Tickets Dec. & Mar: $15/8; May $15/no passes For expanded conductor bios please see ecys.org

Summer Music & Endangered Instruments

Emily KaoSymphony Season Finale Concert

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Summer Music Conservatory July 16–27, 2018, Weekdays Only

For musicians ages 6–14!

Beginning Orchestra: A class for young musicians with at least one year of privatelessons and limited orchestra experience, a great introduction to orchestral playingand following a conductor.

Intermediate Chamber Orchestra:Intermediate-level chamber ensemble for musicians with two to three years of lessons. Composed of string players: violin,viola, cello, and double bass, repertoire includes works by Mozart, Bach, Haydn.

Chamber Winds: Intermediate to advanced small ensemble repertoire for flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, and Frenchhorn. Other instruments may be accepted on a case-by-case basis. Please contact theECYS Office before applying.

A placement audition is required for the conservatory program. All classes will perform in an evening concert on July 27, 2018, 7:00pm.

Endangered Instruments ProgramThe Endangered Instruments Program (EIP) provides a unique opportunity forstudents to learn less commonly played,but highly sought after, instruments likedouble bass, French horn, and viola.

WHO SHOULD APPLY?Participants must have a minimum of one-year experience on any instrument,must be able to read music, and pass an audition with EIP faculty. Musicians shouldbe ages 8–13, though older students may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Groups meet for a Fall and Spring Ses-sion. Learn more or sign up at ecys.org/EIP.

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The Divisa Ensemble, ECYS’s Ensemble-In-residence, serves as facultyfor musicians in the Chamber Music Program. Ensembles are invited to perform in the community, with the ensemble, in masterclasses, andto participate in competitions.

ECYS Chamber Music is open to students of the Senior Symphony, Sinfonietta, ECWO and Galbraith Honor Strings who play: violin, viola,cello, oboe, flute, clarinet, bassoon, or French horn.

Each ensemble is coached weekly from September–January, and closely studies a work of the major repertoire. Interested membersmay apply spring through early fall, through the ECYS website.

On January 26,2018, 7:30pm, ECYS willpresent the Divisa Ensem-ble and ECYS ChamberMusicians in recital at theCommunity School ofMusic and Arts, TateuchiHall, 230 San Antonio Circle, in Mountain View.Admission is free!

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Chamber Music at ECYS

Cassandra MaySymphony Holiday Concert

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Divisa Ensemble: Eugenia Wie, Meave Cox, Sara Styles, Stephanie Ng, and Tomiko Tsai

Invest in Our YouthSince ECYS was established in 1963, more than 10,000 aspiring musicians have been trained, encouraged and inspired by our program. Our members continue to receive outstanding instruc-tion, and experience the thrill of playing in the finest concert halls. We honor the rich cultural heritage of the Bay Area by includingworld music in our programming, and offer our young musicians the rare opportunity to perform alongside some of America’s mostdistinguished artists.

Please consider supporting our work with a tax-deductible giftto help our young musicians grow, thrive, and reap the benefits ofthe kind of enriching development that music education uniquelyfosters. We especially invite you to support our scholarship fund toensure that no child is ever turned away for financial need.

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Joey ZhuSinfonietta Fall Classic

Concert

2017–18 Board of Directors

All programs subject to change.

El Camino Youth Symphony4055 Fabian Way • Palo Alto, CA 94303(650) 213-7111email: ecys@ecys.org

For more information, please visit the ECYS websitewww.ecys.orgFind ECYS on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram

Major Funders:

Musician Portraits courtesy of:Capture Positive

Photography (capturepositive.com)

All other photos:Lisa AdhikariLori Bingham

Lauren DresbergPetr Dyrc

Debra GardnerKymber Gillen

Jason Lew

Design: N ancy Singer

Supporting Our Mission

The El Camino Youth Symphony Association provides the financial and administrative support necessary to maintain the ECYS music education and performance programs. The Association’s Board of

Directors is composed of parents and interested community members who volunteer their time and effort.

You may donate online or send your donation to:

ANN & GOrDON GETTY FOUNDATION

DAVID & LUCILE PACKArD

FOUNDATION

THE rEINHOLD FOUNDATION

HUrLBUT-JOHNSONFUND

AN ADVISED FUND OFSILICON VALLEY COMMUNITY

FOUNDATION

BANK OF AMErICA CHArITABLE GIFT

FUND

SCHWAB CHArITABLE

HELEN ZHANG

JENNIFEr & Jr MATTHEWS

VErED & AMIr FAINTUCH

SOFIA UNIVErSITY

THE GrAYBIrD FOUNDATION

FOOTHILL ArTS ALLIANCE