Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra (COYO) embarks on tour to Europe in June 2019
COYO’s third international tour — and first with Music Director Vinay Parameswaran — includes performances in Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary
COYO to be coached and conducted by Cleveland Orchestra Music Director Franz Welser-Möst in Austria
Educational and Cultural Exchange between Youth Orchestra and Anton Bruckner Private University led by Franz Welser-Möst
CLEVELAND – The Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra (COYO) will make a seven day, four concert tour to Europe this spring with COYO Music Director Vinay Parameswaran, who also serves as assistant conductor of The Cleveland Orchestra. The ensemble will perform a program featuring Brahms, Bartók, and Adams in Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary from June 12-19, 2019. These performances mark the third international tour in COYO’s 33-year history.
Cleveland Orchestra Music Director Franz Welser-Möst will join COYO on tour in Austria, coaching the ensemble in Linz and conducting Brahms’s Tragic Overture on June 12 at the Abbey of St. Florian.
“The Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra is an extremely talented ensemble. They are at the level of, or better than, some professional musicians I have heard,” said Franz Welser-Möst. “They have access to musicians from one of the greatest orchestras in the world — The Cleveland Orchestra — and they learn what it means to be an orchestra musician on the highest possible level. It is a unique concept that a top orchestra has its own youth orchestra, and they are all trained exactly the same way.”
“This is my first international tour with the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra, and I couldn’t have asked for a better group of young musicians to travel with,” said Vinay Parameswaran. “This really is one of the finest youth ensembles, and I’m extremely proud that they have the opportunity to represent Cleveland abroad and share their passion for music internationally. I’m also looking forward to Music Director Franz Welser-Möst joining us in Austria for coaching sessions and to lead the ensemble in Brahms’s Tragic Overture, the opening piece of our concert. The opportunity to work with him on our tour will be an invaluable learning experience for these young musicians.”
Before departing, COYO will present a free send-off concert on June 7 at Cleveland’s Severance Hall, performing their repertoire for the European Tour. Details for all concerts on the tour are included in the calendar listings below.
Anton Bruckner Private University – Educational and Cultural Exchange
Franz Welser-Möst will guide a collaboration between the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra and Anton Bruckner Private University in Linz, Austria. This unique educational, cultural, and artistic exchange centers around an octet comprised of four COYO members — violinists Célina Bethoux and Kaylee Bontrager, violist Mikel Rollet, and cellist Katarina Davies — and four students from Bruckner University — clarinetist David Lehner, bassoonist Petra Seidl, horn player Felix Huettel, and bassist Jovian Raphael Mashayekhi.
In May, Bruckner University students will visit Cleveland to rehearse with COYO’s octet musicians and take part in lessons and coaching sessions led by Cleveland Orchestra musicians — cellist Paul Kushious and clarinetist Robert Woolfrey. The Bruckner students will also have private lessons with principal clarinetist Afendi Yusuf, principal bassoon John Clouser, horn player Richard King, and principal bass Max Dimoff.
In June, Franz Welser-Möst will join COYO in Linz, Austria for coaching sessions with the octet comprised of COYO and Bruckner University students. The collaboration will culminate with a performance of Schubert’s Octet at Bruckner University’s Great Hall on June 13. This concert will be part of the University’s 2018-2028 Schubert Cycle. Ticket information is listed below in the calendar section.
“The collaboration between COYO and Bruckner University, where I studied, is a wonderful opportunity and an enriching experience for these students from different countries and backgrounds,” said Music Director Franz Welser-Möst. “There is an enormous difference between the American and European cultures of the two institutions, so it will be an interesting learning process beyond just making music together. As I know from my own experience, there is much to be learned from others, and my hope is that the interactions between students will expand how they see themselves and each other.”
On June 13, Bruckner University will host a panel discussion entitled “Tradition vs. Innovation” with Franz Welser-Möst and Tibor Navracsics, European Union Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport. This event at Bruckner University’s Great Hall is free and open to the public, with registration required. (The moderator will be announced at a later date.) Details are listed below in the calendar section.
Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra Support
The Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra and the Educational and Cultural Exchange with Anton Bruckner Private University is supported by long-term partner voestalpine AG, a group based in Linz, Austria.
"At voestalpine Group, we can look back on a long tradition of supporting cultural institutions and projects,” said Dr. Wolfgang Eder, CEO voestalpine AG. “In addition, supporting young people has always been one of the central components of our corporate culture. We pursue this approach not only in our corporate environment in the training and further education of our young employees, but also in our commitment to the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra. The cooperation between young musicians from the USA and the Anton Bruckner Private University in Linz also underscores the importance of international exchange. One of the central objectives of the voestalpine Group is to live out regionality and internationality equally."
The Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra tour is made possible in part through the generosity of the Vinney Family. In 2011, the Jules and Ruth Vinney Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra Touring Fund was established to help cover costs of Youth Orchestra touring and to provide scholarships to eligible Youth Orchestra members. An endowment gift from the Jules and Ruth Vinney Philanthropic Fund, advised by their children Les Vinney, Margo Vinney, and Karen Jacobs, established this generous Touring Fund, which will provide perpetual support toward the Youth Orchestra’s ongoing touring program.
Major operating support for the Youth Orchestra is generously provided by the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation. Endowment support is provided by The George Gund Foundation and Christine Gitlin Miles.
CALENDAR LISTING:
Tour Send-Off Community Concert – Free and open to the public
Severance Hall, Cleveland
Friday, June 7, 2019 at 8:00 p.m.
Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra
Vinay Parameswaran, conductor
ADAMS The Chairman Dances (Foxtrot for Orchestra)
BARTÓK Dance Suite
BRAHMS Tragic Overture
BRAHMS Symphony No. 2
For free tickets, call the Severance Hall Ticket Office at 216-231-1111 or visit https://www.clevelandorchestra.com/1819-concerts-pdps/1819---coyo-concerts/youth-orchestra-2019-06-12/?performanceNumber=17630
Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra European Tour Concert Itinerary
Sankt Florian, Austria
Abbey of St. Florian
Wednesday, June 12, 2019, at 7:00 p.m.
Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra
Franz Welser-Möst, conductor
Vinay Parameswaran, conductor
BRAHMS Tragic Overture
BARTÓK Dance Suite
BRAHMS Symphony No. 2
Tickets are free. Details of ticket availability will be announced at a later date.
Vienna, Austria
Golden Hall, Musikverein
Saturday, June 15, 2019, at 3:00 p.m.
Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra
Vinay Parameswaran, conductor
ADAMS The Chairman Dances; Foxtrot for Orchestra
BARTÓK Dance Suite
BRAHMS Symphony No. 2
For tickets, visit https://www.musikverein.at/en/concert/eventid/39886
Bratislava, Slovakia
Reduta Bratislava Concert Hall
Sunday, June 16, 2019, at 7:00 p.m.
Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra
Vinay Parameswaran, conductor
ADAMS The Chairman Dances; Foxtrot for Orchestra
BARTÓK Dance Suite
BRAHMS Symphony No. 2
For tickets, visit http://www.filharmonia.sk/en/events/event/cleveland-orchestra-youth-orchestra-m15/
Budapest, Hungary
MOM Cultural Centre
Wednesday, June 19, 2019, at 5:00 p.m.
Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra
Vinay Parameswaran, conductor
ADAMS The Chairman Dances; Foxtrot for Orchestra
BARTÓK Dance Suite
BRAHMS Symphony No. 2
For more information, visit https://momkult.hu/programok/cleveland-youth-orchestra-ifjusagi-zenekar-klassz-bent/
Educational and Cultural Exchange with Anton Bruckner Private University
May 3 - 10: Cleveland, Ohio
Bruckner University students travel to Cleveland for coaching sessions and lessons with musicians of The Cleveland Orchestra and COYO octet members at Severance Hall.
June 10 - 13: Linz, Austria
Cleveland students travel to Linz for collaborative rehearsals and performance at Bruckner University:
June 12:
Schubert Octet Masterclass/Coaching with Franz Welser-Möst
10:00-11:30 a.m.
Bruckner University, Great Hall
(By invitation only. Members of the media who are interested in covering this event may request access by contacting Claudia Flekatsch-Kapsamer at [email protected]).
June 13:
Schubert Octet Masterclass/Coaching with Franz Welser-Möst
9:00-10:30 a.m.
Bruckner University, Great Hall
(By invitation only. Members of the media who are interested in covering this event may request access by contacting Claudia Flekatsch-Kapsamer at [email protected]).
Bruckner University Panel Discussion with Franz Welser-Möst: “Tradition vs. Innovation”
11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Bruckner University, Great Hall
Free Admission
Registration required. Email [email protected] or call +43 732 701000 280. More information can be found here.
Chamber Music Performance of Schubert’s Octet, hosted by Franz Welser-Möst
7:30 p.m.
Bruckner University, Great Hall
Admission: Adults € 20 | Youth € 10
Tickets can be reserved by emailing [email protected] or calling +43 732 701000 280. More information can be found here.
About Franz Welser-Möst
Among today’s most distinguished conductors, Franz Welser-Möst is marking his seventeenth year as music director of The Cleveland Orchestra, with the future of this acclaimed partnership extending into the next decade. The New York Times has declared Cleveland under Mr. Welser-Möst’s direction to be the “best American orchestra“ for its virtuosity, elegance of sound, variety of color, and chamber-like musical cohesion.
Mr. Welser-Möst and The Cleveland Orchestra are frequent guests at many prestigious concert halls and festivals around the world, including regular appearances in Vienna, Salzburg, Lucerne, New York, and Miami. During Mr. Welser-Möst’s tenure, The Cleveland Orchestra has been hugely successful in building a new and, notably, younger audience at home through groundbreaking programs involving families, students, universities, and cross-community partnerships.
As a guest conductor, Mr. Welser-Möst enjoys a close and productive relationship with the Vienna Philharmonic. His recent performances with the Philharmonic have included a series of critically-acclaimed opera productions and appearances on tour at New York’s Carnegie Hall, at the Lucerne Festival, and at La Scala Milan. From 2010 to 2014, Mr. Welser-Möst served as general music director of the Vienna State Opera and, before his term in Vienna, led the Zurich Opera for a decade, conducting more than forty new productions and culminating in three seasons as general music director (2005-08).
Mr. Welser-Möst’s recordings have won major awards, including a Gramophone Award, Diapason d’Or, Japanese Record Academy Award, and two Grammy nominations. In 2017, Mr. Welser-Möst was awarded the Pro Arte Europapreis for his advocacy and achievements as a musical ambassador. Other honors and awards include the Vienna Philharmonic’s “Ring of Honor” as well as recognition from the Western Law Center for Disability Rights, honorary membership in the Vienna Singverein, appointment as an Academician of the European Academy of Yuste, a Decoration of Honor from the Republic of Austria for his artistic achievements, and the Kilenyi Medal from the Bruckner Society of America.
About Vinay Parameswaran
Vinay Parameswaran began his tenure as Assistant Conductor of The Cleveland Orchestra as well as Music Director of the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra in the 2017-18 season, marking The Cleveland Orchestra’s centennial. Mr. Parameswaran came to Cleveland following three seasons as Associate Conductor of the Nashville Symphony from 2014-17, where he led over 150 performances.
In the summer of 2017, Mr. Parameswaran was a Conducting Fellow at the Tanglewood Music Center. Recent engagements have included his debuts with the North Carolina Symphony, Grant Park Orchestra, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Rochester Philharmonic, Tucson Symphony, National Symphony Orchestra, Milwaukee Symphony, Jacksonville Symphony, Eugene Symphony, and the Vermont Symphony Orchestra.
Equally at home conducting opera, Mr. Parameswaran has led acclaimed productions of Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte and Donizetti’s L’Elisir d’Amore with Curtis Opera Theater. He also assisted on a production of Verdi’s Nabucco with Opera Philadelphia.
Mr. Parameswaran is the conductor on the album Two x Four featuring the Curtis 20/21 ensemble as well as violinists Jaime Laredo and Jennifer Koh. Along with works by Bach, David Ludwig, and Philip Glass, the recording included Anna Clyne’s Prince of Clouds, which received a 2014 GRAMMY nomination for Best Contemporary Classical Composition. He has participated in conducting masterclasses with David Zinman at the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa, Canada, as well as with Marin Alsop and Gustav Meier at the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music.
A native of the San Francisco Bay Area, Mr. Parameswaran played as a student for six years in the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music and Political Science from Brown University, where he graduated with honors. At Brown, he began his conducting studies with Paul Phillips. He also received a diploma from the Curtis Institute of Music, where he studied with Otto-Werner Mueller as the Albert M. Greenfield Fellow.
About the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra
Founded in 1986 by Jahja Ling (then resident conductor of The Cleveland Orchestra), the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra (COYO) is a full symphonic ensemble comprised of approximately 100 young musicians drawn from 40 communities in 11 counties across Northern Ohio. The Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra provides serious young music students of middle-high school age with a unique pre-professional orchestral training experience where they rehearse and perform in historic Severance Hall, are coached by the musicians of The Cleveland Orchestra, and are led by the Assistant Conductor of The Cleveland Orchestra.
The Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra is part of a broad array of Cleveland Orchestra education and community programs designed to touch every child with music, foster a lifetime of engagement with music and The Cleveland Orchestra, unite our community through music, and nurture outstanding young musicians. In addition to the Youth Orchestra, other programs include the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Chorus and Cleveland Orchestra Children’s Chorus, Crescendo! (providing access to instruments and instruction for disadvantaged youth), the Music Explorers series for children ages 3 to 6, the PNC Grow Up Great ‘Musical Neighborhoods’ program in inner-city Cleveland preschool classrooms, Cleveland Orchestra Family Concerts for ages 7 and up, Education Concerts for schoolchildren, Mindful Music Moments Neighborhood Partners Program, Concert Previews and Music Study Groups for adults, and more. Each year, The Cleveland Orchestra reaches more than 100,000 people with its education and community programs. For more information, call the Orchestra’s Department of Education and Community Programs at 216-231-7355 or visit https://www.clevelandorchestra.com/education-and-community/overview/.
About Anton Bruckner Private University
Anton Bruckner Private University, one of four universities in Linz, a UNESCO City of Media Arts, constitutes a dynamic and innovative center for the arts. Performers and teachers of tomorrow receive an individualized education in music, drama, and dance — inspired by the striking architecture of a new state-of-the art university building. As one of five Austrian universities for music, drama, and dance, Bruckner University’s mission is three-fold: to offer students a training ground for performing the arts, teaching the arts, and academic research. Staging more than 500 events a year, Bruckner University functions as one of the region’s foremost organizers of cultural events, ranging from chamber and orchestral concerts, plays, dance, and jazz performances to contemporary music concerts, podium discussions, and lecture performances.