This year, eight Philadelphia Youth Orchestra (PYO) students have been selected to participate in the National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America (NYO-USA), and two students have been selected to participate in its sister ensemble for younger students: NYO2. The PYO students who have been chosen from Pa. are: Akili Farrow, violin, of Southwest Philadelphia; Johnny May, violin, of Penn Valley; Noah Stein, trombone, of Yardley; Sabine Jung (NYO2), cello, of West Chester; and Gregory Padilla (NYO2), bass, of Northeast Philadelphia. The students from N.J. are: Clara Bouch, viola, of Cherry Hill; Robin Park, cello, of Princeton Junction; and David Stein, tuba, of Morristown.

NYO-USA returns to Asia in the summer of 2018 with Conductor Michael Tilson Thomas leading a program to include the world premiere of a new Carnegie Hall commissioned work by composer Ted Hearne, Sibelius’s Symphony No. 2, and Gershwin’s Piano Concerto in F Major featuring acclaimed pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet as soloist. The musicians’ summer begins with a three-week rigorous training residency, working with leading professional orchestra players from across the country, leading up to NYO-USA’s annual concert on Carnegie Hall’s stage (July 19), to be heard worldwide via the Carnegie Hall Live broadcast and digital series, created in partnership with 105.9 WQXR. Tickets for the Carnegie Hall performance are on sale now at the Carnegie Hall box office, 154 West 57th Street, by calling Carnegie Charge at (212) 247-7800, or at carnegiehall.org.

Following their New York appearances, the NYO-USA musicians will fly to Asia for a tour of some of the region’s music capitals, including visits to Taipei, Shanghai, Beijing, Seoul, and Daejeon. This tour builds on NYO-USA’s historic inaugural tour to China in July 2015, which included seven concerts and was recognized as one of the only four Cultural Pillars of the Consultation on People to People Exchange (CPE) between the U.S.A. and China. This summer’s tour includes debut performances in Taipei and South Korea. NYO-USA players will also have the chance to tour each city and experience the richness of Asian culture.

Outstanding younger American instrumentalists form NYO2, a free orchestra program that comes together alongside NYO-USA each summer with intensive training and performance opportunities. This summer, participating musicians have the opportunity to work closely with fellows of the New World Symphony as well as top players from American orchestras during a residency before NYO2’s performances. After two weeks of training, the 2018 program culminates in a six-day residency at the New World Center in Miami, performing with members of the New World Symphony and violinist Gil Shaham under the direction of conductor Carlos Miguel Prieto in a concert to be webcast by medici.tv. Upon return to New York, this esteemed group of musicians will present their program at Carnegie Hall (July 24), including music by Reveultas, Prokofiev, and Shostakovich. Tickets for the Carnegie Hall performance on July 24 are on sale now at the Carnegie Hall box office, 154 West 57th Street, by calling CarnegieCharge at (212) 247-7800, or at carnegiehall.org.

President and music director of the PYO organization, Louis Scaglione, is very proud and applauds the chosen students for their hard work. “We are very pleased for our PYO students to begin this journey as they join some of the finest young musicians in America in this year’s National Youth Orchestra of the USA and NYO2 programs,” he said. “Each year, our students are recognized, but this is the greatest number of students we have had recognized for one session by Carnegie Hall. This will be an indelible experience for them and I congratulate them all.”