The American Youth Symphony (AYS) Announces its 2022-23 Season

AYS Returns to UCLA’s Royce Hall and Walt Disney Concert Hall under the baton of Music Director Carlos Izcaray

(Wednesday, August 31, 2022, Los Angeles, CA) – The American Youth Symphony (AYS) kicks off its 2022-23 season on Saturday, September 24, 2022 at UCLA’s Royce Hall with a program of Brian Raphael Nabors Onward, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s Violin Concerto, Op. 80, and Gustav Mahler: Symphony No. 1. Music Director Carlos Izcaray leads the ensemble of virtuosic young musicians, and violin soloist John Fawcett, who won the AYS 2021-22 concerto competition.

Tickets are available on a pay-what-you-can basis, ensuring anyone can attend. AYS Members receive access to premium seating, and other benefits. 

“I am continually inspired by the talent, curiosity and dedication of AYS musicians,” said Izcaray. “The 2022-23 season showcases this exceptional ensemble performing works by familiar favorites and today’s brightest composers. We strive to keep our concerts free or at low cost, so everyone can enjoy the uplifting experience of live orchestral music, performed by today’s rising stars.”

Brian Raphael Nabors is a composer of emotionally enriching music that tells exciting narratives with its vibrant themes and colorful harmonic language. With an eclectic musical palate and crafty compositional technique to match, Nabors’ music draws from combinations of Jazz Funk, R&B, and Gospel with the modern flair of contemporary classical music. In Nabors’ words, “Onward is an homage to the triumphs and growth we experience along the epic journey of life. The piece is a 10-minute soundscape to celebrate the dreams and aspirations that motivate us to become our best selves. The consistent use of perpetual motion throughout the texture of the orchestra is meant to capture the spirit of constantly traveling onward either philosophically or quite literally. I aspired to create a musical journey depicting the moments of discovery, innovation, and change that continually push us and our world into the future.” AYS performed Nabors’ Pulse at Walt Disney Concert Hall during its 2021-22 season.

John Fawcett is a violinist from Central Oregon with a passion for a wide palette of musical styles – with an extended interest in solo, orchestral, early and contemporary (outside of classical music) genres of music. Since his solo orchestral debut at age nine, he has performed with numerous orchestras and ensembles. John has been recognized nationally as a National YoungArts winner, MTNA National Senior Strings Finalist and his 2-time positions in the New York String Orchestra Seminar. In addition, he has been featured on NPR’s From the Top. After graduating from the Colburn School’s Conservatory of Music, studying with Robert Lipsett, John will be pursuing a 2-year Masters in Music degree with Jaime Laredo and Jan Mark Sloman at the Cleveland Institute of Music.

On Saturday, November 5, 2022, American Youth Symphony’s annual Hollywood Project concert returns to Royce Hall with a live-to-picture performance of Richard Donner’s 1978 hit, Superman: The Movie, featuring composer John Williams’ ​​Oscar®-winning score. Tickets on sale September 27, 2022 at https://www.aysymphony.org/. 

AYS returns to the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s Sounds About Town concert series on Saturday, February 25, 2023 with the National Children’s Chorus; program to be announced at a later date.

AYS concludes the 2022-23 season with the 58th Annual Gala concert and dinner at Royce Hall on Saturday, April 23, 2023. Izcaray will lead a program that includes Steve Rothstein’s Symphony No. 1, Judaica (Days of Awe), and Richard Strauss’ Ein Heldenleben.

Please visit www.aysymphony.org or call 310-470-2332 for programming updates and ticketing information.

The American Youth Symphony’s mission is to inspire the future of classical music. To this goal, AYS provides fellowships to virtuosic young adults and presents exceptional, innovative, and free or low-cost concerts to the Los Angeles community. 

AYS will adhere to COVID safety policies set forth by each venue and partner organization, aligned with Los Angeles County Department of Health’s guidelines on COVID-19, to create the safest possible environment for all.

ABOUT AYS

ABOUT CARLOS IZCARAY

PRESS CONTACT:
Lisa Bellamore, Crescent Communications
lbellamore@gmail.com
323-500-3071