2020/21 Season
a time of innovation and survival
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, AYS was forced to cancel all in-person programming, including concerts and education programs. We immediately began producing virtual content, starting with our Virtual Gala on May 3, 2020. AYS continued to innovate and keep musicians and audience members engaged virtually for over a year through high-quality recordings and live-streamed events. During this time, AYS was featured in Vanity Fair, the New York Times, and in an Oscar-nominated documentary. During the pandemic AYS produced almost 100 educational coaching videos and four world premieres: two each from our Music Director, Carlos Izcaray and Creative Fellow, Alex Mansour. AYS is not just surviving, but will emerge stronger because of the new capacities built through the intense learning and innovating we have undertaken during this period.
Concert Series
Saturday March 20, 2021
American Youth Symphony (AYS) and ESMoA, an art museum in El Segundo, have partnered to produce intimate concert experiences for our community to be able enjoy live music together. Join us on Saturday, March 20, 2021 from the comfort of your home via livestream on your favorite social media platform.
Stay tuned for future performance dates and the release of a documentary video of the concerts.
Sunday, November 1, 2020
4:00 PM Pacific | 7:00 PM Eastern
Live Streamed on the AYS Youtube Channel
Join AYS for an exciting evening concert from the comfort of your home. Program includes four ensemble performances, including a WORLD PREMIERE from Maestro Izcaray. Purchase a catered meal or a watch party snack pack to make the Fall Concert an even more special event!
Tickets: FREE
Conductor, Carlos Izcaray
Igor STRAVINSKY: Symphonies of Wind Instruments
Jessie MONTGOMERY: Starburst
Carlos IZCARAY: Bloom, WORLD PREMIERE
Benjamin BRITTEN: Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge
Online broadcast on PBS SoCal
Thursday, December 24, 2020
Composed and orchestrated by AYS Creative Fellow, Alex Mansour in collaboration with AYS Music Director, Carlos Izcaray, American Youth Symphony premiered Candlelight for the 61st Annual LA County Holiday Celebration on December 24, 2020.
Online broadcast
Saturday, January 9, 2021
Year-End campaign donors will receive an exclusive premiere of AYS Creative Fellow and Principal Cellist, Alex Mansour’s, new piece, A Thousand Cranes, on Saturday, January 9th. Performed with AYS Concertmaster Gallia Kastner, A Thousand Cranes offers an exciting collaboration and exchange of the themes that inspire Mansour. Anyone contributing $25 or more to AYS from Oct. 1st through Dec. 31st will receive an invitation and a link to the premiere. Participate in AYS’ Year-End campaign by clicking here.
Online broadcast
Friday, March 5, 2021
6:15pm Pacific
The American Youth Symphony (AYS) and A Place Called Home (APCH) have joined forces once again to bring classical music to South Central families and the local community. On Friday, March 5, 2021 at 6:15 p.m., as part of APCH’s Family Film Fridays, AYS will present a FREE interactive pre-show concert event featuring performances by AYS and APCH musicians, a live raffle, and a conducting lesson led by Jessica Bejarano, founder and conductor of the San Francisco Philharmonic. Following the pre-show concert, guests will be treated to a screening of the animated musical film, Sing.
56th Annual Gala
Thursday, June 3, 2021 5:00pm Pacific Watch on the AYS YouTube Channel Free! Registration Required.
Thursday, June 3
5:00 PM Pacific | 8:00 PM Eastern
Watch on the AYS Youtube Channel
Free! Registration Required.
Commemorate the innovation of the 20/21 season and the perseverance of AYS musicians by joining us for AYS’ 56th Annual Gala celebration. Music Director Carlos Izcaray and 31 AYS musicians bring you a full program with four ensemble performances all filmed at UCLA’s Royce Hall.
To make the Gala even more memorable, join AYS for a series of events leading up to the Gala broadcast. Register and learn more about all events here.
Program:
Conductor, Carlos Izcaray
Aaron COPLAND: Three Latin-American Sketches
Anna CLYNE: Within Her Arms
Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de ST. GEORGES: Symphony No. 1
Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART: Serenata Notturna
Thursday, July 15, 2021 5:00pm Pacific
Watch on the AYS YouTube Channel
Free! No Registration Required.
AYS’ Annual Recital is back for the second year on Thursday, July 15th at 5:00pm Pacific! Our annual recital shares the amazing talent of AYS’ newest alumni in celebration of their time playing for AYS. This year, 15 musicians are leaving AYS and joining our over 2,800 Alumni community.
Help us celebrate the newest AYS alumni class by watching four of them take their final note as AYS musicians. The 2nd Annual Recital features solo performances by violinist Hannah Chou, harpist Alyssa Katahara, violinist Justus Ross, and bassoonist Miles Mateus.
