Empire State Youth Orchestra Announces SpringUP Festival

Empire State Youth Orchestra, known regionally and nationally for empowering leadership among youth musicians from communities in New York's Capital Region and the Berkshires, today announced the SpringUP Festival, a series of eight concerts featuring street performances, an immersive Soundwalk in Albany's Washington Park, and virtual mainstage performances in ESYO's new Virtual Concert Hall. The festival, which runs from Saturday, May 22 through Sunday, June 13, 2021, allows ESYO to "spring up" into the community for the first time in 15 months, showcasing youth-led community music events.

"Youth leaders are found in every ensemble and at all levels of ESYO," said Carlos Ágreda, ESYO's Music Director. "Their passion, resiliency, and commitment inspired ESYO to meet the challenges created by the pandemic and keep making music together," he continued.

In addition to preparing for their spring concerts, which are to stream online to a virtual audience in June, ESYO musicians have been busy finding creative ways to make music together outside of their ESYO ensemble. ESYO Young Leader Emma Edgar enlisted a team of ESYO musicians to curate an immersive Soundwalk around Washington Park Lake. Inspired by Ellen Reid's previously held Soundwalk event in SPAC and Central Park, Emma and her team geo-mapped the lake trail using the izi.travel app and matched a selection of music including 7 original works commissioned for this project, to each section of the trail. The recorded pieces are streamed online through a phone app, and as audiences stroll along the nature trail, the music automatically changes based on the walker's location in the park.

"I hope this project inspires fellow young people to add vibrance to their community," Emma Edgar, project founder said recently, "I hope it will inspire older generations to see what people my age are capable of. I also hope it inspires all to look attentively at the small things that often go unnoticed, especially during the time of COVID, and to offer a reprieve from unwelcome, looming worry that accompanies us during this pandemic." Emma managed the artistic and technical vision of Soundwalk with assistance from ESYO staff and faculty, from creating a budget, to issuing commissioning contracts, Emma gained invaluable experience in arts management. Executive Director Rebecca Calos said, "I am incredibly impressed by the passion and creativity that inspired the Soundwalk. Emma has not only conceived of a brilliant project but has demonstrated skill beyond her years in its planning and execution. ESYO is proud to sponsor this innovative experience, which unites music and technology while celebrating the community."

Original works by several local composers and artists, including the Musicians of Ma'Alwyck, Brett Wery, and 2020 ASCAP Morton Gould Young Composer Award finalist Aaron Houston are featured. Each piece was prepared and rehearsed by ESYO members and recorded at Proctors by ESYO Alumnus and Young Leader Mentor Sean Jones.

The SpringUP Festival launched on May 22, 2021at the Troy Waterfront Farmers Market with a busking-style event that featured a bouquet of youth-led ensembles performing arrangements of popular classical masterpieces and jazz standards. The youth, such as ESYO violinist Romeo Vashishth curated each performance and ensemble, selected music, led rehearsals, and prepared the group for the concert.

"I was inspired to create this ensemble out of the joy that is playing chamber music with friends, something that we had not done for over a year, and we were itching to get back to it," said Romeo. "When the SpringUp Festival was born, it was the perfect opportunity for us. I am excited finally to play for real, live people," he continued.

The SpringUP Festival line-up includes additional street performances by members of ESYO CHIME at the Schenectady Greenmarket on Sunday, June 6, and virtual mainstage performances of all thirteen ESYO Ensembles from Thursday, June 9 through Saturday, June 12, 2021. The SpringUP Festival concludes on Sunday, June 13, 2021, with a youth-led volunteer festival and outdoor benefit concert at Orsini Park in Altamont. In-person audiences are welcome to bring a lawn chair and picnic lunch, as well as perishable food items to benefit the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern NY.

All outdoor events are FREE and open to the general public. Tickets to ESYO's virtual mainstage stage concerts are on sale now and start at $1 with ACCESS ESYO. SpringUP Festival contributing sponsors get FREE access to ESYO virtual mainstage performances with their gift of $100. For a complete list of festival concerts and events or to donate, visit esyo.org/springup.

SPRINGUP FESTIVAL EVENTS

ESYO SpringUP at Troy Waterfront Farmers Market | FREE

Saturday, May 22, 2021

Time: 10AM - 1PM

Venue: Troy Riverfront Park

ESYO Young Leaders Presents: ESYO Soundwalk | FREE

Sunday, May 30, 2021 through Tuesday, August 31, 2021

Venue: Washington Park in Albany, NY

Symphony String Orchestra & Repertory Romantic Orchestra at the SpringUP Festival

Wednesday, June 9, 2021

Time: 7PM

Venue: ESYO Virtual Concert Hall

Jazz Orchestra, String Orchestra- GE Theatre & Repertory Classical Orchestra at the SpringUP Festival

Thursday, June 10, 2021

Time: 7PM

Venue: ESYO Virtual Concert Hall

Symphony Classical Orchestra, Youth Percussion, & String Orchestra-Key Hall at the SpringUP Festival

Friday, June 11, 2021

Time: 7PM

Venue: ESYO Virtual Concert Hall

Wind Orchestra Woodwind Choir, Wind Orchestra Brass Choir, & Concertino Strings at the Spring UP Festival

Saturday, June 12, 2021

Time: 3PM

Venue: ESYO Virtual Concert Hall

Repertory String Orchestra & Symphony Romantic Orchestra at the SpringUP Festival

Saturday, June 12, 2021

Time: 7PM

Venue: ESYO Virtual Concert Hall

ESYO Young Leaders Volunteer Festival | FREE

Bring non-perishable food item to benefit the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern NY

Sunday, June 13, 2021

Time: 1PM - 5PM

Venue: Orisini Park, Village of Altamont