Register for YAP Online!

New Students Returning Students

The Young Artists Philharmonic has launched an exciting new Online Program, which will serve as a bridge from now until when live rehearsals can begin again some time in 2021. Even though we can’t be in person yet, that does not mean that music education stops, or that it is not possible to make huge strides in your artistic growth. We’re rethinking the traditional youth orchestra model, and taking advantage of our ability to bring in world class faculty from anywhere in the world. The program is a blend of individualized instrumental instruction combined with supplemental classes taught by conservatory faculty.

Each virtual “rehearsal” has two parts:

Part 1 “Elements of Music” Level 1 or Level 2

“Music Theory” sounds like a science…but it is far from it!. With help from instructors from Juilliard and the Manhattan School of Music, students will investigate musical concepts in a practical manner through active listening, guided analysis, daily topics, and instrumental demonstrations. Level 1 will be for beginners to the subject, and Level 2 will explore more advanced concepts.

Part 2 “Sectional Rehearsals”

Each instrument group (violins, violas, flutes, etc.) will meet with a teaching artists for one hour, and rehearse music related to the program chosen by their conductor. Every student will have the opportunity to receive personal attention and feedback from the teaching artist during this time.

Timeline:

Weekly rehearsals take place on Sundays, from 5:00 – 7:00 (YSE/younger students will meet from 5:15 – 6:30)
The first session will be February 21, and run through April 11, 2021.

How It Works:

Your schedule is dependent on which ensemble you are placed in. Age is not the determining factor, but typically it is the case that young and beginning string players are placed in to the Young String Ensemble (YSE), middle school students are placed in the Young People’s Symphony (YPS), and high school/advanced players are placed in the Young Artists Philharmonic (YAP). There is also a Flute Choir ensemble, as well as a Woodwind and Brass ensemble.

FOR STUDENTS IN YAP, YPS, AND FLUTE CHOIR:

From 5:00 to 5:45, students who were previously in YAP, YPS, or Flute Choir will be taking a wide-ranging class called Elements of Music, taught by a rotating roster of Benjamin Grow, Chris Vassiliades (Theory faculty at Manhattan School of Music), and Greg Robbins. There will be a level 1 and a level 2, based on prior experience with music theory.
5:45-6:00 BREAK
6:00 – 7:00 students will break off into virtual sectionals, divided up by instrument class (all violins together, all violas together, etc). Each sectional will be led by a professional teaching artist, with input from YAP conductors. Members of Flute Choir will attend a rehearsal with Sharon Levin during this time block.

FOR STUDENTS IN YSE:

From 5:15 – 5:45, your conductor Darwin Shen will lead group warm ups, and rehearsal exercises related to the music being learned
5:45 – 6:00 BREAK
6:00 – 6:30 Darwin Shen will present and teach the musical topic of the day, with occasional guest visits from other YAP conductors.

YAP Online Faculty includes:

Benjamin Grow (Faculty: Juilliard, Young Artists Philharmonic)

Chris Vassiliades (Faculty: Manhattan School of Music)

Greg Robbins (Faculty: Idyllwild Arts Academy)

Darwin Shen

Sharon Levin

Cost:

As a gift to the community, and as a thank you for your solidarity during last season’s disruptions, YAP will be offering this first session (September 27 to November 22) free of charge, although there will be a $25 registration fee. The registration fee should be mailed to:

Young Artists Philharmonic
PO Box 3301
Stamford, CT 06905

Thanks to the magic of technology, it is possible to present something as complex as an orchestral performance virtually. Many orchestras across the country have become adept at “stitching” together individual compoents in order to form the whole (pictured: The Milwaukee Symphony). In this way, YAP will be able to present a final culmination event, summing up the important work that takes place during the sectional rehearsals, under the guidance of the conducting staff. The event will be streamed on YouTube, and the entire community is invited to attend, wherever in the world they might be.