Carnegie Hall

(March 20, 2019; NEW YORK, NY)—Carnegie Hall today announced the names of the 80 young musicians selected from across the country for NYO2, a three-week, intensive summer orchestral training program for outstanding American instrumentalists ages 14–17. The members of NYO2 2019—coming from 30 US states plus Puerto Rico—have been recognized by Carnegie Hall as exceptionally talented musicians who not only embody a very high level of artistry, but who also come from a wide range of backgrounds, representing a future for American orchestral music that includes communities which have often been underserved by and underrepresented in the field. 20 musicians are returning to NYO2 from previous seasons. In addition, 22 musicians who previously took part in NYO2 have been accepted to the 2019 edition of the National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America (NYO-USA; ages 16–19) this summer.

See below or click here for the names, instruments, and hometowns of the members of NYO2 2019.

For the second consecutive year, the musicians of NYO2 will travel to Miami Beach for a weeklong residency, made possible through a continued partnership with the New World Symphony, America’s Orchestral Academy (NWS). As part of their training, NYO2 players have the opportunity to work with NWS Fellows leading up to a performance at the New World Center on Saturday, July 27 at 8:30 p.m. led by conductor Carlos Miguel Prieto. The program includes Stravinsky’s Pétrouchka, selections from Falla’s The Three-Cornered Hat, and Gabriela Montero’s Piano Concerto No. 1, “Latin,” featuring the composer as soloist.

The New World Center concert will be made available to the community for free via WALLCAST®, with the full performance viewable outdoors in SoundScape Park on the 7,000-square-foot projection wall of the building. During their time in Miami, the NYO2 members will also have opportunities to interact with local young musicians in the South Florida area through NWS community partner organizations, playing and learning side-by-side with one another.

Following their Miami residency, NYO2 returns to New York for a culminating performance at Carnegie Hall on Tuesday, July 30 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for the Carnegie Hall concert, priced at $25 for adults and $10 for students, are on sale now at the Carnegie Hall Box Office, by calling CarnegieCharge at 212-247-7800, or at carnegiehall.org. Discounted student tickets are available online for verified Student Insiders only – all other youth tickets must be purchased at the box office or over the phone.

“We are thrilled to partner again with the New World Symphony to bring some of the most exceptional young musicians in the country to both New York City and Miami” said Clive Gillinson, Carnegie Hall’s Executive and Artistic Director. “The opportunity to work with NWS Fellows and to learn from conductor Carlos Miguel Prieto and pianist Gabriela Montero will be life-changing for the NYO2 musicians. We hope they will return home to their communities inspired to further develop their skills and use music to connect with audiences and people everywhere.”

The NYO2 program begins with an intensive training residency at Purchase College, State University of New York in mid-July. The young musicians work with NWS Fellows as well as other professional players from top orchestras, and also have opportunities to make music side-by-side with members of NYO-USA and NYO Jazz. Joseph Young, Artistic Director of Ensembles at the Peabody Institute, returns as NYO2’s resident conductor, and the students also have the opportunity to work with James Ross, music director of the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra in Virginia. The faculty leads private lessons, master classes, chamber music readings, and other seminars on essential music skills in preparation for the culminating concerts in Miami Beach and New York. 

NYO2 2019 Orchestra Roster 

* Prior NYO2 member

 

Alabama
Karalyn Melissa Harper, Violin	(Pinson)
Kah’lin Jordan, Clarinet	(Birmingham)
Arizona
Jonathan Salcedo, Trombone	(Phoenix)
Caleb York, Timpani and Percussion	(Tucson)*
California
Ashni Budge, Violin	(La Verne)*
Matthew Chang, Violin	(Los Angeles)
Elena Chen, Cello	(Cupertino)
Melody Gawon Choi, Violin	(San Jose)
Andrew Do, Cello	(Irvine)
Edward Jung, Violin	(San Jose)*
Josephine Kim, Cello	(San Diego)
Matthew Sakiyama, Violin	(Millbrae)*
John Robert Santiago, Flute	(Los Angeles)
Helen Skilbred, Oboe	(Upland)
Cole Turkel, Clarinet	(Los Angeles)
Cindy Xu, Viola	(San Jose)
Joseph Yu, Trumpet	(San Francisco)*
Connecticut
Jimmy Curto, Tuba	(Wilton)
Tyler Tan, Violin	(Cheshire)*
Florida
Karishma Chapalamadugu, Violin	(Valrico)
Anthony De Peña, Cello	(Miami)*
Isabela Diaz, Violin	(Miami)
Ashley Gomez, Violin	(Miami)
Arwyn Ivey, Bass	(Tarpon Springs)
William Ramos, Bassoon	(Palm Harbor)
Hawaii
Yudai Leonzon, Violin	(Honolulu)*
Matin Kealaokahinano Boulos, Bass	(Palolo)
Stephanie Yoshida, Violin	(Honolulu)
Illinois
Aidan Daniels, Violin	(Frankfort)
Sean C. Edwards, Timpani and Percussion	(Chicago)*
Avi Gotskind, Timpani and Percussion	(Chicago)*
Bridget Hemesath, Timpani and Percussion	(Chicago)
Rafael Noriega, Bass Trombone	(Chicago)
Indiana
Nathan Shepherd, Bassoon	(Lanesville)
Louisiana
Sara Vollenweider, Horn	(Metairie)
Maine
Colin Aponte, Violin	(Blue Hill)
Maryland
Amber Bowen-Longino, Trumpet	(Beltsville)
Makayla Bowen-Longino, Bassoon	(Beltsville)
Gloria Cai, Cello	(Ellicott City)
Massachusetts
Thomas Juhasz, Oboe	(Carlisle)*
Michigan
Evelyn Hartman, Trumpet	(Petoskey)
Nevada
Tristin Saito, Viola	(Henderson)*
New Hampshire
Alex Aranzabal, Cello	(Londonderry)
New Jersey
Grace Seoeun Kim, Violin	(Closter)
New York
Lawrence Chai, Viola	(Mount Sinai)*
Erin Harrigan, Horn	(Trumansburg)
Leila Hudson, Harp	(Yorktown Heights)*
Eliana Lee, Violin	(Bedford Corners)
Haile Onikura-Southward, Viola	(Brooklyn)
Keneil Soni, Horn	(Albertson)
North Carolina
Aaron Chen, Cello	(Arden)*
North Dakota
Aiden Krogh, Cello	(Grand Forks)
Joanna Lin, Clarinet	(Fargo)
Ohio
Eli Pace, Bass	(Dublin)
Jamie Park, Bass	(Beachwood)*
Cirrus Rowland-Seymour, Bass	(Cleveland)
Oklahoma
Jaylin Vinson, Violin	(Oklahoma City)
Oregon
Thomas Green, Bass	(Medford)*
Nia McQuarters, Viola	(Portland)
Pennsylvania
Jadelyn Ding, Harp	(State College)
Sung-Me Nichole Lee, Viola	(Paoli)
Semaj Murphy, Violin	(Philadelphia)
Caleb T. Reed, Violin	(Philadelphia)
Puerto Rico
Rachel Lee Alers Mercado, Violin	(Manatí)
South Carolina
Payton Jin-Hyun Lee, Violin	(Duncan)*
Ansley Moe, Viola	(Spartanburg)
Jeremiah Moultrie, Viola	(Charleston)
Hailey Xu, Viola	(Greer)
South Dakota
Elizabeth Jerstad, Violin	(Sioux Falls)
Tennessee
Sasha Hitachi-Kizziah, Flute	(Chattanooga)
Texas
Eli Canales, Trombone	(San Antonio)
Gage Ellis, Trumpet	(Longview)
Nicholas Garcia-Hettinger, Violin	(San Antonio)
Yui Ginther, Horn	(Austin)
Adolfo Pena, Horn	(Brownsville)*
Marco Santistevan, Viola	(Rio Grande City)
Virginia
Bryan Kim, Violin	(Blacksburg)*
Karina Wugang, Keyboard	(McLean)
Washington
Minsoo Kwon, Flute	(Seattle)
Wyoming
Coleton G. Morgan, Oboe	(Hartville)

 

About NYO2
Created by Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute in summer 2016, NYO2 brings together outstanding young American instrumentalists ages 14–17 for a summer orchestral training program that culminates in exciting concerts at Carnegie Hall and elsewhere. Running in conjunction with NYO-USA’s annual summer residency at Purchase College, SUNY, NYO2 offers an opportunity for participants to play alongside exceptionally talented peers and learn from a world-class faculty. The program aims to expand the pool of young musicians across the country equipped with the tools to succeed at the highest level, particularly those who not only embody a very high level of artistry, but who also come from a wide range of backgrounds, representing a future for American orchestral music that includes communities which have often been underserved by and underrepresented in the field.

The inaugural season of NYO2 culminated in a side-by-side concert with The Philadelphia Orchestra at Verizon Hall led by conductor Giancarlo Guerrero, as well as a pop-up performance at the 23rd Street Armory alongside NYO-USA, members of The Philadelphia Orchestra, and local instrumentalists from the Philadelphia area. In summer 2017, NYO2 made its Carnegie Hall debut with Guerrero, members of The Philadelphia Orchestra, and Grammy Award–winning bassist and vocalist Esperanza Spalding. Last year, NYO2 partnered with the New World Symphony for a six-day residency in Miami Beach, with performances at the New World Center and Carnegie Hall led by conductor Carlos Miguel Prieto and featuring acclaimed violinist Gil Shaham.
To learn more, visit carnegiehall.org/nyo2. 

 

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Lead Donors: Hope and Robert F. Smith, Marina Kellen French and the Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Foundation, The Kovner Foundation, and Beatrice Santo Domingo.

Leadership support for NYO2 is provided by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Founder Patron: Beatrice Santo Domingo

With additional funding provided by Ardian US Foundation, Sarah Arison, and Ernst & Young LLP.

Public support is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts.

Bank of America is the Proud Season Sponsor of Carnegie Hall. 

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What the Press Have Said About NYO2

“It was inspiring to watch the young musicians of NYO2 in their Carnegie Hall debut… they vibrantly demonstrated a bright future for classical music.” – Musical America

“At turns tender and bombastic, lyrical and frenetic, it had both the exuberance of youth and the resonance of deep musical maturity. And, they nailed it.” – Feast of Music

“These young musicians played with both maturity and youthful enthusiasm.” - Superconductor

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