American Youth Symphony
841 Apollo Street, Ste 344, El Segundo, CA 90245
(310) 470-2332 / info@AYSymphony.org
American Youth Symphony is a 501(c)3 Non-Profit Organization. Tax ID: 95-2076046
(Thursday, July 13, 2023, Los Angeles, CA) – The American Youth Symphony (AYS), led by Music Director Carlos Izcaray, today announced its 2023-24 season, and Izcaray’s contract extension, ensuring his tenure for the next three seasons until 2026-27, marking a decade in the role.
“Carlos Izcaray’s contract extension is a testament to his exceptional leadership and artistic vision,” said Kevin Dretzka, chairman of the board of AYS. “Since 2015, Carlos has guided our orchestra to new heights, and has empowered our AYS Fellows to achieve artistic excellence. We are thrilled to continue this exciting journey together as we look towards a bright future for the orchestra.”
“I am honored to have my contract extended with AYS,” said Izcaray. “It is a true privilege to lead this inspiring group of musicians who represent the future of orchestral music. I look forward to continuing our artistic journey together, exploring new horizons, and creating meaningful musical experiences that resonate with our community.”
AYS’s 2023-24 season kicks off on Sunday, September 17 at UCLA’s Royce Hall, in a program featuring virtuosic pianist and AYS 2023 Concerto Competition winner, Rosalind Wan Wong, who will perform Vítězslava Kaprálová’s Piano Concerto in D Minor, the triumphant composition she performed for the competition. The concerto was written by Kaprálová in 1935, when she was 20 years old, and she conducted the premiere of the piece. Just five years later, Kaprálová suffered an untimely death from a misdiagnosis. “This work is youthful and fantasia-like in its construction, influenced by many great composers of her time,” said Wong. “I chose to perform this for the concerto competition because, as a little-known female composer whose life was cut short by tragedy, she deserves to be championed.” The program also includes Arnold Schoenberg’s Chamber Symphony No. 1 and Johannes Brahms’ Symphony No. 1 in C minor.
Rosalind Wan Wong is an award-winning composer and pianist who enjoys performing solo concerti with orchestras, including Rachmaninoff’s 2nd with the Irvine Symphony, Mozart’s last piano concerto with UCLA Philharmonia, and Shostakovich’s Concerto for Piano Trumpet and Strings with Alias Brass’s Jon Bhatia. She has received accolades from numerous competitions and organizations beginning as early as elementary school, including those from the Quick Bowman Competition, Atwater Kent Competition, and Aspen Summer Music Festival. In 2017, she received her doctorate of musical arts under the direction of concert pianist Inna Faliks at UCLA and is now a regular member in the Sonnets and Sonatas series at the Getty Museum. An AYS alumna, she also served as the Henry Brittan and Maxwell Siemons Piano Chair at AYS from 2018-2022.
AYS will return to UCLA’s Royce Hall for their 15th Annual Hollywood Project concert on Saturday, November 4, 2023 with a live-to-picture performance of Steven Spielberg’s 1993 classic, Jurassic Park™, featuring composer John Williams’ Grammy-nominated score. The action-packed adventure pits man against prehistoric predators in the ultimate battle for survival. Featuring visually stunning imagery and groundbreaking special effects, this epic film is sheer movie magic 65 million years in the making. Now audiences can experience Jurassic Park as never before: projected in HD with a full symphony orchestra performing John Williams’ iconic score live to picture.
AYS will conclude their 2023-24 season with the 59th Annual Spring Concert at Royce Hall on Saturday, April 27, 2024. Maestro Izcaray will lead a program that includes Gabriela Lena Frank’s Contested Eden and Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 7.
Additional performances will be announced at a later date; artists and programs are subject to change.
AYS Members receive access to premium seating, and other benefits. Ticket reservations for AYS members and the general public are available on the following dates:
Opening Night
September 17, 2023
Member reservations open August 10, 2023 and general tickets go on sale August 17, 2023. Tickets are available on a pay-what-you-can basis.
15th Annual Hollywood Project
November 4, 2023
Member reservations open September 20, 2023 with general tickets going on sale September 27, 2023. Tickets included in AYS membership; general tickets are $20.
59th Annual Spring Concert
April 27, 2024
Member reservations open March 13, 2024 and general tickets go on sale March 20, 2024. Tickets are available on a pay-what-you-can basis.
Please visit www.aysymphony.org or call 310-470-2332 for programming updates and to purchase tickets.
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.
Press contact:
Lisa Bellamore
Crescent Communications
lbellamore@gmail.com
323-500-3071