Syracuse University announced Wednesday it created two new youth orchestras for middle school and high school students in Central New York.

The Syracuse Youth Orchestra and the Syracuse Youth String Orchestra are now part of the Community Music Division of the Rose, Jules R. and Stanford S. Setnor School of Music in the College of Visual and Performing Arts, said Erica Blust, director of communications at VPA. Blust said the orchestras are being administered through University College.

The idea for the creation of the orchestras came after the closing of the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra, said Patrick Jones, director of Setnor. When the SSO closed, the previous Syracuse Youth Orchestra and Syracuse Symphony Youth String Orchestra also closed, Jones said. SU decided to create two new orchestras — similar to the previous ones — to give young musicians the opportunity to play again, Jones said.

‘It all came about because those other organizations closed, and it’s just a natural fit for us to provide those kinds of opportunities,’ he said.

The Syracuse Youth Orchestra is open to high school students, while middle school students are able to play in the Syracuse Youth String Orchestra, Jones said. The orchestras, he said, will be funded through fees paid by the students, donations, fundraising and ticket sales.

Auditions for the youth orchestras were held last spring before Jones was hired as the new director, he said. Rehearsals, which are being held at Eagle Hill Middle School, started Sunday.

Students from all over Central New York are playing in the orchestras, said James Tapia, conductor for the Syracuse Youth Orchestra and associate professor at VPA. Tapia said he believes it is important for the students to be able to play in the orchestras.

‘It is a pre-professional experience for high school and middle school students who have qualified by audition to play the most important masterwork and contemporary masterpieces available to orchestra musicians,’ he said.

The first scheduled performance will take West Genesee High School on Sunday, Nov. 6, at 4:30 p.m. Tickets will be available Oct. 1, Tapia said.

There will be at least three performances throughout the academic year, Jones said. Performances are being scheduled ‘on the fly,’ and no other performance dates have been set, he said.

‘As soon as we have some concerts lined up, we will send out a press release,’ Jones said.

Jones said people can also check the University College website and the events page on VPA’s website for future performance dates.

So far, Jones said, the orchestras have been well-received by the community.

‘Up until this point, the majority of the feedback has been from the parents and the students,’ he said. ‘It has been overwhelmingly positive. … People are so grateful that SU has stepped up.’

Tapia said that along with parents and students, the teachers from the Onondaga County Music Educators Association are also supportive.

Jones said he believes it is important SU continues to offer these kinds of experiences to students because it’s what they love to do.

‘I’m a music education person. I believe it is important for young people to be able to pursue things of interest to them because it’s part of being human, and it’s part of being alive,’ he said.

Jones also said these activities help students expand their knowledge.

‘It doesn’t matter if it’s throwing a ball or playing a violin,’ Jones said. ‘It helps them be. And it helps them learn and grow.’

snbouvia@syr.edu

Published on September 13, 2011 at 12:00 pm

Contact Stephanie: snbouvia@syr.edu | @snbouvia