Lisa Tipton, Director

               Asuka Fu, Assistant Director

"The Chamber Music Program of the New York Youth Symphony has established itself as one of the most well-respected ensemble music training programs in the country...[The program] provides a range of opportunities to study, perform, and rehearse in a context that balances structure with flexibility, guidance and independence, and discipline with inspiration."
          -Chamber Music America magazine

"[The Chamber Music Program] is truly a wonderful program for students of chamber music, exceptionally important to a student's growth as a musician as well as a human being."

The Chamber Music Program is an excellent opportunity for young players to enhance their musical abilities, improve their performance confidence, and develop interpersonal skills within small group settings. Now entering its 27th season, the Program welcomes players of all levels. The Program makes every effort to place individual players into ensembles with whom they may feel most comfortable; pre-formed groups are also encouraged to apply.

Activities Fee: $325 per season

Recitals

The season finale in Weill Recital Hall of Carnegie Hall on Monday, April 29, 2009, the glittering champagne recital at the National Arts Club, and a performance in Leonard Nimoy Thalia at Symphony Space provide multiple opportunities for each ensemble to present its music. Back to top

Festival Evening

The third annual "Festival Evening" will feature performances by all ensembles and a reception afterward. Back to top

Coaching

Instruction levels are incorporated within a two-tiered program, intermediate and advanced. Ensembles comprised of strings, winds, brass, guitar, harp, and piano meet weekly from October through April for individualized coaching sessions with a staff of outstanding professional musicians. This season, the coaches include members of the Shanghai, Lark, Meridian, and Mitchell String Quartets, Quintet of the Americas, Speculum Musicae, and Da Capo, among others. Eliran Avni, piano Anna Maria Baeza, clarinet Laura Gilbert, flute Suzanne Gilchrest, flute Matthew Goeke, cello Cordelia Hagmann, violin Emi Kagawa, piano Katia Kravits, piano Janathan Keren, violin Sheryl Lee, piano Adam Meyer, viola Soo-Kyung Park, flute Adiel Schmit, cello Linda Sinanian, violin Sebu D. Sirinian, violin Ella Toovy, cello Suzanne Wagor, viola Alexander Yudkovsky, violin Carmit Zori, violin Back to top

Masterclass Series

The Chamber Music Program consistently boasts an extraordinary series of masterclasses by world-renowned chamber musicians. This season the masterclass coaches include: Claude Frank, concert pianist Kazuhide Isomura, viola, The Tokyo Quartet Kathe Jarka, Alexander teacher Gilbert Kalish, concert pianist Ani Kavafian, violin/viola, Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center Alan Kay, Clarinet, Orpheus Program Coordinator Joel Krosnick, cello, Julliard String Quartet Anne-Marie McDermott, piano Frank Morelli, bassoon, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra Charles Neidich, clarinet, faculty of the Juilliard School Daniel Phillips, violin, The Orion Quartet Shanghai Quartet members Fred Sherry, cello, Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center Carol Wincenc, flute, The New York Woodwind Quintet Carmit Zori, violin Back to top

Chamber Music Workshops

Students enjoy special evenings of sight-reading with coaches, workshops, informal performances, and social time. For more information please see the Musicians page. Back to top

World Première

An honors ensemble will give the world première of Trio for Flute, Cello, and Piano by Daniel Wohl, who has been commissioned by the Chamber Music Program as part of the First Music series of new works by young American composers. The work will have its première in Weill Recital Hall on April 29, 2009. Back to top

Mentorship Program

Daniel Phillips, violinist of the renowned Orion Quartet, will work closely with a selected group, performing with them at the season finale. Mr. Phillips enjoys a versatile career as an established chamber musician, solo artist and teacher. He has performed as a soloist with many of the country's leading symphonies, including those of Pittsburgh, Houston, New Jersey, Phoenix, San Antonio and Yakima. Back to top

Performances for Special Audiences

New York Youth Symphony's Performances for Special Audiences are live performances by chamber music, chorus, and jazz musicians for children at various facilities throughout Manhattan.  This form of music therapy can improve overall rehabilitation of the therapy recipients and increase their motivation to become engaged in their treatment, depending on the nature of the disability. This unique experience also enables our players to use their talents to make a difference in people's lives.  Although the audience may not always be directly engaged in the performance, musicians understand the impact music can have on people. "I sincerely hope you will come back very soon to continue this great work.  I want to personally thank each and every one of your young performers.  I think often they cannot know how much they are helping with their effort."           -Alessandro Ricciarelli, music therapist, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Lead support for Performances for Special Audiences for the 2008-09 season is provided by The Joseph F. McCrindle Foundation. [see Performances for Special Audiences for more information] Back to top

Director's Award for Commitment and Achievement

Each year, the Director recognizes individuals at the season's final concert for dedication to the Program and for musical advancement.

To request an auditions brochure, contact us.

Lisa Tipton, Director

Lisa Tipton, violinist and co-founder of the award-winning Meridian String Quartet, has toured internationally and held residencies at Queens College, Bard College, and Turtle Bay Music School. She has won distinctions from the Evian International Competition, Artists International, and Chamber Music America. As a devoted interpreter of new music, she established the “Made in America” series at Weill Recital Hall and performed on the "Interpretations" series at Merkin Concert Hall. She performs regularly with Solisti New York and the American Symphony Orchestra. Ms. Tipton earned a B.A. from Cornell University and an M.A. from the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College. Her recording of Ives' sonatas was released in 2006 on Capstone Records.