WHO WE ARE
Garden State Philharmonic History
Artistic Director & Conductor
Garden State Philharmonic Chorus
Garden State Philharmonic Youth Orchestras
Board of Directors
THE NEWSROOM
Click here to visit our Youth Orchestra website or call 732.451.0064 or email for more information.
Garden State Philharmonic Youth Orchestras
As part of its commitment to education, the Garden State Philharmonic actively sponsors three youth orchestras to provide young musicians the opportunity to play in an orchestra and receive training to develop and enhance individual musicianship. The three programs work together as feeder programs, so students can build on their knowledge and advance up the musical ladder. The members come from various schools in Ocean and Monmouth counties and must belong to their school music programs.
The Symphonic Youth Orchestra (SYO), formed in 1970, has approximately 52 students, and is conducted by Leslie Hollander. This is a full orchestra, complete with wind, brass and percussion instruments, and the SYO has performed at Carnegie Hall and Avery Fisher Hall. Some SYO graduates have continued their musical studies and today are accomplished professional musicians. Within this group is the GSPYO String Quartet, founded in 1998 and available to perform at various functions.
In 1990, two more youth orchestras were founded to encourage elementary and middle school musicians. The String Ensemble (SE), conducted by Kate Roselli, encourages its 20+ elementary school students to seriously study string instruments and offers training and advancement into the Concert Youth Orchestra (CYO). The CYO, conducted by Marilyn Osmundsen, has approximately 65 students. In 1998, it too became a full orchestra with brass and woodwinds. This group of middle school students offers training and advancement into the Symphonic Youth Orchestra.
These three youth orchestras perform during the winter season and at a grand finale in June at Toms River High School North, as well as performing throughout the year at senior citizen communities. Three scholarships are awarded each year to students who are pursuing a degree in music.
For more on the Youth Orchestra see Press Releases.
