National Youth Orchestra of the USA Makes Tanglewood Debut Tonight

Carnegie Hall previously announced that the National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America (NYO-USA), a program of Carnegie Hall's Weill Music Institute, would make its debut at the Tanglewood music festival, the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra in the Berkshire hills of Massachusetts, tonight, July 24, 2014 at 8:00 p.m. in Ozawa Hall.

NYO-USA's concert at Tanglewood will be part of a coast-to-coast US tour led by renowned American conductor David Robertson and featuring violinist Gil Shaham, which will also include the orchestra's Carnegie Hall debut. Complete details on NYO-USA's summer 2014 US tour will be announced in late January.

The NYO-USA's 2014 program to be performed at Tanglewood and on all tour dates will include the premiere of a new work from American composer Samuel Carl Adams, commissioned by Carnegie Hall for NYO-USA; Leonard Bernstein's Symphonic Dances from West Side Story; Benjamin Britten's Violin Concerto with Mr. Shaham; and Ravel's arrangement of Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition.

Prior to embarking on the US tour with Mr. Robertson and Mr. Shaham, the 120 members of the second annual NYO-USA will spend two weeks training with principal players from some of the country's best orchestras on the campus of Purchase College, SUNY, just outside New York City in Westchester County. The Purchase residency includes sectional and full orchestral rehearsals, workshops on musical and non-musical topics designed to complement the tour repertoire, and social and recreational activities. The musician roster for NYO-USA's 2014 edition will be announced in March 2014.

"After an exciting inaugural overseas tour last summer, we're really looking forward to introducing the remarkably talented players of the National Youth Orchestra of the USA to audiences across our own country, including concertgoers at Carnegie Hall and at Tanglewood, one of the most esteemed and historic summer venues in the nation," said Clive Gillinson, Carnegie Hall's Executive and Artistic Director.

About the National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America: The National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America provides an annual, free opportunity for the brightest young musicians, ages 16-19, from across the US to come together with their peers, supported by a faculty of leading professional orchestra musicians and a celebrated conductor, for a two-week intensive musical residency, followed by a tour to some of the great music capitals of the world. Young musicians from across the country are invited to apply to this one-of-a-kind program, which is designed to shine a light on the extraordinary talent of young American instrumentalists, offering NYO-USA members a transformative musical and cultural experience as they develop their musical skills, receive training at the highest professional level, and travel abroad, serving as musical youth ambassadors for the US.

Launched in summer 2013 with a tour led by Valery Gergiev with violinist Joshua Bell, the inaugural NYO-USA received widespread acclaim from audiences and critics alike in response to concerts at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC; at the Moscow Conservatory and St. Petersburg's Mariinsky II in Russia; and at London's Royal Albert Hall as part of the BBC Proms. For information about NYO-USA, including audition requirements and details on the application process, visit carnegiehall.org/nyousa.

About Tanglewood: Tanglewood-the famed summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and widely known as one of the world's most beloved music festivals-is situated in the beautiful Berkshire hills of western Massachusetts. Each summer, Tanglewood offers music lovers a wide spectrum of musical guests and programs that spotlight the festival's rich tradition of presenting summertime concerts at their best since 1937. The 2014 Tanglewood season will feature more than 100 performances, including concerts by the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Boston Pops, and Tanglewood Music Center (the BSO's prestigious summer music academy); chamber music, recital, and concert opera presentations in Ozawa Hall; and a series of Popular Artist concerts. Tanglewood is family-friendly, with free lawn tickets available for young people age 17 and under, and a 50% discount on Friday-evening lawn tickets for college and graduate students, among the many options for discounted tickets. Tanglewood also offers a variety of special programs for children and a wide spectrum of education options for adults. Tickets for the 2014 Tanglewood season, priced $10-$121, go on sale Sunday, January 26, at 888-266-1200 and tanglewood.org.

About Carnegie Hall: Founded in 1891, New York City's Carnegie Hall presents exceptional performances by the world's finest musicians on its three stages-the renownEd Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage, the intimate Weill Recital Hall, and the innovative Zankel Hall- including concert series curated by acclaimed artists and composers; citywide festivals featuring collaborations with leading NYC cultural institutions; orchestral performances, chamber music, new music concerts, and recitals; and the best in jazz, world, and popular music. Extensive music education and community programs developed by Carnegie Hall's Weill Music Institute support Carnegie Hall's commitment to fostering the future of music. More than 400,000 people will engage in the Weill Music Institute's programs over the next year through national and international partnerships, in New York City schools and community settings, and at Carnegie Hall. For more information on Carnegie Hall and other Weill Music Institute programs supporting the ongoing development of young musicians, visit carnegiehall.org.

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