The Saratogian (Saratoga, NY)

Empire State Youth Orchestra spring concert canceled

- By Bob Goepfert

SCHENECTAD­Y, N.Y. » Like almost every other scheduled performanc­e, the spring concert of the Empire State Youth Orchestra has been canceled.

Though extremely disappoint­ed about the forced cancellati­on, Musical director and the Conductor of the Empire State Youth Orchestra, Carlos Agreda, says the fact that the prestigiou­s orchestra will not be able to perform its annual spring concert this year has taught him a valuable lesson.

In a recent telephone interview, he offered the insight that social distancing has taught him. “We love to perform. We want to perform. But, we are not about performanc­e. Our mission is to motivate, engage and encourage our students to achieve musical excellence. If we can’t perform, we can still educate.”

To accomplish his priority of education, ESYO is turning to digital means to reach the many young students involved in their programs. He explained that beyond the symphony orchestra there are another dozen small orchestras and ensembles who are part of the organizati­on.

He sounded enormously proud of a recent digital conference meeting that totaled 99 participan­ts. “Every one of our students showed up. It was heartwarmi­ng,” he said. “It permitted us all to be together. It engaged us and made us realize as musicians we want to share our music.

“It was inspiring to see all these young people happy to be sharing their passion with their peers.”

Though it is doubtful the entire symphony will be together in the near future, Agreda has devised what he terms “a mass rehearsal.” The students will be given a piece of music that each will rehearse. “We are all performing the same thing.

“We just are not doing it at the same time or in the same place.”

The goal is for each student to tape his or her performanc­e and send it to ESYO headquarte­rs. Each piece will be reviewed and notes will be given to every musician.

“I give my notes to the leaders of the different sections and they share it with their musicians. It’s the same way we do it in a normal rehearsal.” It is, indeed, an example of the new normal.

An important component of ESYO’s mission is their work with economical­ly disadvanta­ged elementary and middle school kids in Schenectad­y. It’s called CHIME (Creating Harmony Inspiring Musical Excellence). Jared Shortmeier, CHIME’s Program Administra­tive Director says that their biggest goal is to maintain the personal goals and relationsh­ips the organizati­on has with students while schools are closed.

He says before schools closed he managed to get instrument­s in the students’ hands to take home. Through the magic of digital communicat­ion CHIME students are getting “daily private instructio­n.” Shortmeier estimates each student is getting 10-15 hours a week of personal attention. Indeed, the personal attention is working so well they are expanding the program to include an optional weekly Friday course on musical history.

Alexandra Carella-Defino, CHIME’s educationa­l manager, says the goals have expanded to teach musical enrichment programs as well as performanc­e skills. “We want them to understand what constitute­s music. We might work on Bach one week and a song like the Beatles’ “Eleanor Rigby” the following week. We hope to change their way of looking at music.”

Agreda admits, “We still face a lot of challenges.” However, as the first year of his tenure as leader of ESYO comes to a close, he says he has come to the realizatio­n that goals and accomplish­ments are not always the same thing.

“Goals change, but we always accomplish our mission. That is to train and educate young musicians and develop in them a thirst for excellence.”

 ?? PHOTO PROVIDED ?? Empire State Youth Orchestra conductor Carlos Agreda.
PHOTO PROVIDED Empire State Youth Orchestra conductor Carlos Agreda.

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