MODESTO SYMPHONY YOUTH ORCHESTRA TO PRESENT
VIRTUAL CONCERT NOVEMBER 18
MODESTO, CA – The Modesto Symphony Youth Orchestra (MSYO), led by Music Director Ryan Murray, will open its 45th season with a virtual concert on Wednesday, November 18 at 7:00 pm. The virtual performance will feature both MSYO orchestras performing pieces including Pachelbel’s Canon and Bizet’s Carmen Suite No. 1., as well as two MSYO student soloists.
“We’ve had a wonderful time connecting with our students virtually this year,” said MSYO Music Director Ryan Murray. “Although the format is much different than a live in-person rehearsal, there are some unique opportunities to rehearsing virtually. The students get much more one-on-one attention from their instructors and the skills they are learning now, like video recording and being leaders of their own sections, will continue to serve our students in their musical endeavors going forward and will make our youth orchestra even stronger once we’re back to an in-person format. We’re also excited that our students can easily share their virtual performances with friends and family that live all over the world.”
This virtual concert will be the MSYO’s first of a three-concert season. The concert will be shown live on the Modesto Symphony’s YouTube channel. Recordings of this concert and other past MSO events will be available to watch at ModestoSymphony.org. All MSYO virtual concerts are free of charge to help bring music to the community.
“In a year where so much is different, one of our goals was to make sure our MSYO students continued to receive the highest level of music education,” said Caroline Nickel, President and CEO of the Modesto Symphony Orchestra. “The MSYO staff has done a fantastic job keeping the students engaged and challenged through virtual rehearsals and we’re excited to show what they have accomplished in such a short period of time.”
The MSYO program provides a full orchestral experience for young musicians from around the region and is made up of two full-orchestras (strings, winds, and percussion). The MSYO Concert Orchestra (Grades 5-9) is conducted by Don Grishaw and the MSYO Symphony Orchestra (Grades 9-12) is conducted by Ryan Murray. Both ensembles typically perform a three-concert series at the Gallo Center for the Arts each season. This year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the MSYO musicians currently meet and rehearse weekly via Zoom and each musician recorded their individual part at home to produce this concert. More information about the MSYO can be found at ModestoSymphony.org/About-
