Minnesota Youth Symphonies

Programs: Minnesota youth symphonies (mys) has served young orchestral musicians since 1972. The high expectations and artistic standards at mys are a hallmark of our organization. There are three full orchestras; philharmonic (advanced intermediate); repertory (advanced level) and symphony (collegiate level) and a string orchestra (intermediate level). All students must audition each season for placement into one of the four orchestra levels. Mys has a scholarship program to ensure that all qualifying students have the opportunity to participate. Since 1992 mys has also offered music education classes including: harmony & composition, solfege, music theory and frequent choral opportunities. The annual symphony solo competition has gained wide acclaim and has featured soloists on the violin, cello, tuba, marimba, clarinet, harp, bassoon, flute, xylophone and viola. Rehearsals are held at highland park middle school in st. Paul, our rehearsal home for the past 28 years. Three concerts are held each year in professional performance venues, playing to near-sellout crowds. The artistic staff is comprised of co-artistic directors, two principal conductors, three regular coaches, education instructor, a string orchestra assistant, string studio instructor, and four volunteer librarians. For the first time in 35 years, mys toured internationally in june 2017. The mys symphony orchestra visited five cities in cuba over eight days, performing three concerts to enthusiastic audiences and participating in four musical exchanges with local orchestras. Artistic director and symphony conductor manny laureano was impressed with the group's stamina during the intense heat and busy travel schedule. Symphony students benefitted not only from the interaction with local musicians, but also from the experience of playing a full-length concert together throughout the trip. Repertoire included selections by rachmaninoff, shostakovich, gershwin, and two pieces by local composer and mys coach shelley hanson. Community outreach:in 1998 mys began free violin and viola classes during the school day for grades 3 and 4 at andersen united community school in minneapolis. In the 2012-13 season the program moved to folwell performing arts magnet in minneapolis, serves about 25-35 students annually. Mys also sponsors a music & melody makers program that brought young children in to try out the orchestral instruments and observe an orchestra rehearsal. This program is offered twice each season and is free to the participants who are mostly from early childhood and family education programs, girl scout groups and other youth organizations. In march of 2018 we hosted the saint paul music academy students in a side-by-side rehearsal, performance and group lunch with our philharmonic orchestra. We also have a program for youth groups to receive reduced or free tickets to our concerts. Total concert attendance for the 2017-2018 season was approximately 5000. Mys students perform in the community in a number of ways. New in 2017-2018 was a new community performance featuring all four orchestras called the play-a-thon which was the culmination of a student fundraising effort which raised over $32,000. Artistic staff:claudette and manny laureano, co-artistic directors since 1988, have led the students of mys to amazing artistic heights, earning mys the reputation as one of the finest youth orchestras in the country. Mys has a devoted artistic staff of conductors and coaches who have more than eighty combined years of service with mys. Regular sectionals with members of the minnesota orchestra give our students a unique opportunity and perspective. A loyal and talented administrative staff and a devoted group of board members round out a program that is deeply committed to the education of young musicians. Each season more than 125 parent volunteers assist with rehearsals, rehearsal retreats, concerts and special activities. A volunteer coordinator coordinates volunteers. Statistical data: - 310 students participated in four orchestras during the season. In the 2017-18 season 50% of mys students were from saint paul or the eastern twin cities suburbs, 33% were from minneapolis or the western suburbs. About 15% came from greater minnesota, and 2% from western wisconsin. Some traveled from as far as rochester to participate. Our total concert attendance last season was over 4900. - 7% of mys students received scholarships. - 98% of the students study privately and 80% play in their school band or orchestra program. - 97% of graduating seniors were accepted into a college or university. - 33 students participated in our string studio program at folwell performing arts magnet in minneapolis. - over 50% of mys students participated in the free mys music education classes, with topics including solfege, ear training, theory exam preparation. Mys is governed by a board of directors who provide fiscal oversight and establish policy and procedures for the operation of the organization. The mys office staff is comprised of five personnel: executive director, development coordinator, operations manager, communications coordinator and a part-time librarian. The mys offices are located in highland park, mn.