Carnegie Hall

The 2020 season of NYO2 took place over two weeks in July, entirely online due to the effects of COVID-19. Using digital tools such as Zoom and Google Classroom, each of the 80 young musicians had the opportunity for extensive interaction with NYO2’s outstanding faculty of musicians from America’s leading orchestras: a private lesson each week as well as several sectionals, studio and master classes, and more informal discussions. The full orchestra convened regularly with Resident Conductor Joseph Young to explore one of the major pieces of NYO2’s originally planned repertoire, Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances. The sessions introduced the full score and recordings of the work, and explored ways to dig deeper into the music through clapping, singing, conducting, and improvising on sections of the work. Dancer Terese Capucilli led a workshop that encouraged students to translate musical gestures from the Symphonic Dances into physical movements to help inform their interpretation of the work.

NYO2 continued its partnership with the New World Symphony. Two panels of the symphony’s Fellows led sessions open to all three of Carnegie Hall’s national youth ensembles: one focused on auditions and college admissions, and the other on using technology as a tool for better practicing. A number of Fellows also participated in one-on-one mentoring sessions with students, with NYO-USA and NYO2 alumni serving as additional mentors.

All 2020 participants in Carnegie Hall’s three national youth ensembles also had the chance to join a number of online discussion sessions and special events. These included a Q&A with Wynton Marsalis, a workshop (and impromptu mini-concert) by Jacob Collier, as well as sessions on new music, careers in music education, and orchestra administration. The orchestra’s scheduled guest conductor, Mei-Ann Chen, offered a listening session and musical trivia quiz to the musicians of NYO2, joining them online from Taiwan.

NYO2 participated in two creative virtual performances, with each musician recording their part at home, featuring Grieg’s “Morning Mood” from Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Op. 46, and highlights from Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances. These performances, directed by Emmy Award winner Habib Azar, were released online through Carnegie Hall’s and NYO2’s social media channels as well as in a live stream event in December 2020 that recapped the entire set of virtual orchestral performances from NYO-USA and NYO2.