THE WORLD ON Jim Saah
By Jamie McCrary
MCYO performs at its spring concert in the Music Center.
I’m leaning on the back wall of a large rehearsal room at Strathmore, watching the symphony warm-up. There’s a feeling of comradery—and anticipation—as players practice their parts and talk amongst each other. As the conductor raises his baton, I lean in a little closer, narrowing my attention to the orchestra’s first note.
Music Director Kristofer Sanz, who conducts the Philharmonic and oversees each of MCYO’s ensembles, says his educational philosophy is based on artistry. “We really dig into the passion of the music and make sure that the kids connect—physically and emotionally—with what they’re playing. We want to draw out their potential.”
What follows is a silky blanket of sound. It’s warm and full, and it seeps through the room as the piece unfolds. The group slowly begins to sync as one single, breathing organism.
Sanz works to cultivate a lifelong love of music— whether students become professional musicians or music patrons.
A HISTORY OF EXCELLENCE This is the mark of a truly seasoned orchestra, I thought, listening as their sound continued to blend and grow. The fact that each player is only high schoolaged is just another extraordinary fact. The Philharmonic, Maryland Classic Youth Orchestras’ (MCYO) top ensemble for preprofessional young musicians is comprised of some of the DC area’s most talented high school brass, wind, string, and percussion players. It’s one of the program’s four larger musical groups, which include three string ensembles, in addition to chamber music and instrument-specific ensembles.
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STRATHMORENEWS | Spring 2020 | www.strathmore.org
Founded in 1946, MCYO is the oldest and most established youth orchestra program in the DC area. The program has accomplished many milestones throughout its nearly 75 years, like in 1969, when the Philharmonic became the first American orchestra to perform at the International Festival of Youth in Switzerland. About a decade later, the group became the first youth orchestra to play at the Kennedy Center, followed by its Carnegie Hall debut in 2002. Cheryl Jukes, executive director, said one of MCYO’s greatest milestones was its merger with Strathmore.
