Benjamin Zander, Director
Rehearsals:
Saturday, 3:10–6:00 p.m.
Jordan Hall Concerts:
December 15, 2010, 8 p.m.
June 3, 2011, 8 p.m.
Founded in 1962, the Youth Philharmonic Orchestra (YPO) is the premier orchestra at the New England Conservatory Preparatory School. The YPO is under the dynamic leadership of Music Director and Conductor Benjamin Zander, and comprised of accomplished young musicians between the ages of 12 and 18 who are selected annually from over 400 applicants.
Fifteen international concert tours have enriched audiences on four continents and established YPO as one of the finest youth orchestras in the world. Most recently, they traveled to China in 2007. YPO has been invited and sponsored by such prestigious organizations as the Friendship Ambassador Foundation, Korean Broadcasting Service, Pacific Cultural Foundation, Mozarteum Argentino, and BankBoston. Benjamin Zander has led YPO in concerts at some of the finest concert halls of the world, including three sold-out performances on the subscription series of Santiago, Chile’s Teatro Municipal, the Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires, Argentina and the Teatros Muncipal of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
In 1998, the Youth Philharmonic Orchestra was invited to participate in the 2nd National Youth Orchestra Festival sponsored by the American Symphony Orchestra League. The festival brought together 450 of the country’s most accomplished young instrumentalists to study under the guidance of an esteemed faculty. Selected from a national pool of applicants through a rigorous two-part audition process, only five of this country’s leading youth orchestras were chosen.
WGBH-TV, Boston’s public television station, has produced two documentary films of the orchestra’s tour of Chile. The one-hour documentary film, A New World of Music, produced by Concert Productions, Inc. from the 1995 tour of Chile and Argentina, was nominated for an Emmy Award and has aired nationally on public television. The CD recordings of YPO have received acclaim from Classic FM Magazine, Fanfare Magazine and the American Record Guide in which the playing of the Dvorak New World Symphony was lauded as “unbelievable in its conviction and communication.” The American Record Guide concluded: “Listen to the New England Conservatory Youth Philharmonic Orchestra and you will know there is hope for the future. The kids of the Youth Philharmonic Orchestra are remarkable. But don’t take my word for it—hear it for yourself.”
Listen to YPO's June 4, 2010 Concert recorded live in Jordan Hall - use redemption code NECBZ64 for downloads.
Listen to YPO perform Strauss' Ein Heldenleben and more
Read the blog: YPO in China 2007
Join the discussion: Benjamin Zander and YPO members
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I Audition for YPO?
Auditions for the YPO take place on a yearly basis in May. Students take a Large Ensemble audition. Qualified students are then invited to play in a final round of YPO callback auditions before being accepted into the orchestra.
Technical requirements: for highly advanced string, woodwind, brass and percussion players. Admission to YPO is extremely selective. Students placed in YPO generally play at a level which will guarantee them admission to selective conservatories. Younger college-age players are sometimes invited to fill vacancies due to the absence of qualified pre-college players.
What should I prepare for my Fall 2010 Seating Auditions?
Seating Auditions will be held September 11-12 for all returning and new ypo members. Walnut Hill Students will play seating auditions on September 13 at Walnut Hill. Beginning August 15, students can sign up for an audition time online by logging into their accounts. Seating auditions are about seven minutes long. Students should prepare two contrasting works or two movements of the same work. In addition YPO students need to prepare the YPO seating excerpts. YPO Seating excerpts are available by clicking on the links below.
How do I request to be absent from a YPO rehearsal?
Please print and hand-in an Absence Request Form to YPO manager or Concert Ensemble Manager, Rebecca Bogers. Requests need to be submitted at least two weeks before the date of absence. We urge you to submit requests as soon as you know about them so that there is plenty of time for them to be approved.
You may also fax your form in to
(617) 585-1135
or snail mail to:
NEC Preparatory School
Attn: YPO
290 Huntington Avenue
Boston MA 02115-5018
You may also email a letter of request to the YPO manager.
NOTE: You will receive an email from the YPO manager when your absence has been approved by Benjamin Zander.
2010-03-03
FELIX MENDELSSOHN