When Agnes Kline was a kid, her grandparents took her to see the Empire State Youth Orchestra, and she decided she wanted to be in the orchestra when she was a bit older.
Irene Van Ryn remembers seeing ESYO perform its Melodies of Christmas concert on television and feeling that same pull.
`I said, ‘I’m going to do that,’` she said.
These days, it’s Kline and Van Ryn inspiring the next generation of Capital District musicians. Now students at Shaker High School, both are members of ESYO — Kline as a cellist and Van Ryn as a violinist.
ESYO is not actually an orchestra in and of itself, but an umbrella term for nine performing groups. Though it has a good relationship with area schools, it’s not affiliated with any local districts. It’s an independent activity for young musicians in the Capital District and beyond.
Talk to kids in the ensembles — there are roughly 300 of them — and you’ll hear a lot of stories similar to Kline’s and Van Ryn’s. Many saw ESYO performing and just felt a natural attraction. David Luidens of Guilderland High School watched a friend perform with ESYO and, he said, `I knew that was what I wanted to do.`
Robert Cosgrove of Albany High School was hooked after a percussion ensemble performance.
These clearly aren’t kids who play instruments because they need class credit or because their parents make them. They do it because they love music. With ESYO, they feed off the excitement of others who share that passion.
`A lot of these kids are very dedicated to making music,` string ensemble conductor Joseph Gummper said. `They find other people like them here. They find kindred spirits.`
`I’ve never felt so much energy in a group,` said Mike Dorato, a senior at Guilderland High School who plays trombone. `It almost gives you chills, it’s that good. At school, it’s never as deep.`
Dorato hit on another key reason a lot of the ESYO musicians gave for being involved with the group: It simply has a lot more to offer than their school music programs. ESYO commissions its own music. There are regular shows at Troy Savings Bank Hall, Proctors and Carnegie Hall in New York City. Musicians travel to other states and, occasionally, even other countries.
But joining ESYO isn’t as simple as demonstrating a love of music. There are annual auditions — landing a spot one year doesn’t guarantee one the following year — as well as tuition fees.
Then there’s the practice time. The nine performing ensembles (two full orchestras, a wind orchestra, a string orchestra, two jazz ensembles and three percussion ensembles) dedicate a night to practicing each week, with professional musicians serving as conductors and coaches.
Sit in on a rehearsal, though, and you’ll see it’s not really a sacrifice for the musicians. They enjoy an easy rapport with the conductors — Gummper had his kids in stitches demonstrating a pleading face they could use to convince their parents to take them to a local concert — and when they take a break for refreshments, there’s plenty of chatter and laughter.
That lighter side of rehearsals is mixed with a serious commitment to grow and improve as musicians.
Jared Harrison, a flute player from Cobleskill-Richmondville who drives 50 miles each way for practices at the Albany Academies, said he joined ESYO because `I wanted to increase my musical horizons.`
Aden Brooks of Schenectady said ESYO has been invaluable in helping him grow as a trombone player.
Phillip Ducreay, a senior at Schenectady High School who plays violin, liked that ESYO could challenge him.
`Nowhere else around here can you get that kind of intensity,` he said.
It’s a treat for ESYO’s conductors to work with kids who are looking for that intensity.
`I love conducting students, especially kids who are really into their music and instruments,` Gummper said. `You explain something, and when they do it, you see them turn to one another and say, ‘Oh, that’s how it’s supposed to be.’`
`It’s getting them that first experience and seeing that light come on,` said David Beck, a music teacher in the Bethlehem Central School District who conducts the repertory orchestra.
Before she joined ESYO about seven years ago, music director and youth orchestra conductor Helen Cha-Pyo had worked only with professional musicians. She was intrigued by the chance to work with youths.
`I thought this would be a very meaningful way to make music,` she said.
Cha-Pyo sees herself filling multiple roles: `I am a coach, I am a teacher, I am a motivator,` she said.
She is also high energy.
Standing in front of the youth orchestra during a recent rehearsal, she conducted with a flourish, making large sweeping motions with her arms. She regularly stopped and addressed different sections with suggestions.
`She wants the kids to improve,` said Mike Reinemann, a clarinet player from Niskayuna. `She’s very warm and inviting.`
That warmth made an impression on Abbie Zimmermann-Niefield, who initially wasn’t interested in ESYO. But when the group needed extra bass players, Zimmerman-Niefield decided to give it a try.
`I ended up really liking it,` she said. `Helen keeps it fun.`
Beyond that, Zimmermann-Niefield liked how `everyone is interested in music` and that she had a chance to play good music.
That music, after all, is at the heart of ESYO. All those hours of rehearsals translate into more 30 shows each year. Sarah Vero, a lawyer who serves as the president of ESYO’s board of directors, played cello in the group when she was a student at Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake. She remembers hearing recordings of ESYO’s concerts, and she couldn’t help but be impressed.
`You listen to your own CD, and you’re like, I sound like a professional,` she said.
`It’s a really good orchestra,` said Inga Bagelpi, a violin player from Niskayuna.
The conductors say that’s a credit to the students.
`They’re willing to dig deep,` Cha-Pyo said. `They have discipline. These are special kids.`
Ensemble schedules shows
Every year, all 300-plus members of the Empire State Youth Orchestra get together at Crossgates Mall, staging a play-a-thon that serves not only as a major fundraiser but as a way to showcase the group to the Capital District.
`It’s a great way for the community to see the breadth of our offerings,` said Susan Brome, ESYO’s executive director.
This year’s play-a-thon is Saturday, Feb. 7, from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. ESYO also has the following upcoming shows planned:
Sunday, Feb. 8: Repertory orchestra will plarticipate in Albany Pro Musica’s annual High School Chorlal Festival, Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, 4 p.m.
Monday, March 16: Festival of Contemporary Music with SUNY ensembles and ESYO’s youth and repertory percussion ensembles, SUNY Performing Arts Center, 8 p.m.
Sunday, March 22: Concert with repertory orchestra, wind orchestra and string ensemble, Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, 3 p.m.
Tuesday, April 14: Evening concert with ESYO’s youth orchestra and youth chorale and the Riverside Choir, Riverside Church, New York City, time TBA.
Friday, April 24: Concert with ESYO’s youth jazz ensemble and the College of Saint Rose jazz ensemble, Piccotte Recital Hall, Massry Center for the Arts, College of Saint Rose, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, May 8: ESYO wind orchestra at Albany’s Tulip Festival, Washington Park, Albany, time TBA.
Sunday, May 10: ESYO’s 30th anniversary celebration, Proctors, Schenectady, ESYO ensembles play at 1 p.m., youth orchestra,youth chorale and repertory orchestra play a Mother’s Day pops concert at 2 p.m.“