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Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras (CYSO) Announces 60th Anniversary Season

Highlighted by performances at the Ravinia Festival and Symphony Center
Chicago History Museum Grand Re-Opening
Chicago Symphony Orchestra Day of Music
Special Performances with Chicago Sinfonietta
2007 European Tour

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 26, 2006

Contact:
Amanda Goedde
312-939-2207 ext. 31 (phone)
312-939-2015 (fax)
agoedde@cyso.org

The Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras (CYSO) will celebrate its 60 th Anniversary with a season full of special performances and events. The 2006-2007 season , which encompasses over 30 dates in total, includes performances at the Ravinia Festival, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's Day of Music, the Chicago History Museum Grand Re-Opening/150 th Anniversary Celebration and collaborative performances with the Chicago Sinfonietta.

*see complete schedule*

Ravinia Festival, Day of Music and History Museum Grand Re-Opening

The CYSO has been selected for three special performances in its 60 th Anniversary Season. The first will be for the Ravinia Festival's 101 st Birthday Celebration on August 20 th , 2006 . The CYSO Summer Orchestra, under the direction of Stephen Burns (Artistic Director – Fulcrum Point) will feature a program of works by de Falla, Marquez, and Moz art at the event. The second performance will be by the Symphony Orchestra as p art of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's Day of Music Community Sing-a-long. Finally, the Encore Chamber Orchestra, under the direction of CYSO Music Director, Allen Tinkham, will be the headline performer as p art of the Chicago History Museum 's Grand Re-opening and 150 th Anniversary Celebration. This event will feature a special performance of Aaron Copland's famous Lincoln Portrait . Stay tuned for more!

Two special performances with Chicago Sinfonietta

In spring of 2007, the CYSO will collaborate with the Chicago Sinfonietta on a special two concert series. Sinfonietta Founding Music Director Paul Freeman will conduct two performances that will take place at Dominican University , Lund Auditorium on Sunday, March 18, 2007 at 2:30 p.m. and at Symphony Center , Orchestra Hall on Monday, March 19, 2007 at 7:30 p.m. Evoking the American spirit, the concert will feature traditional songs from Shaker melodies to spirituals. Elmer Bernstein's Concerto for Guitar and Orchestra will come alive in the deft hands of guest art ist Christopher Parkening , voted "Best Classical Guitarist" in a nationwide poll, and baritone Jubilant Sykes will bring a new dimension to the traditional music with his vocal stylings.

The program will feature works by Aaron Copland, Elmer Bernstein, and American traditional music, as well as organist Stephen Alltop and members of the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras performing Saint-Saëns' thundering “Organ Symphony.”

See http://www.chicagosinfonietta.org for more details

CYSO European Tour 2007

This upcoming season the Symphony Orchestra will also commence a 12 day tour of Europe June 13 – 24, 2007 . Performances will be held at Smetana Hall in Prague , Czech Republic ; The Frederick Chopin Conservatory of Music in Warsaw , Poland and the Filharmonia in Wroclaw , Poland . As p art of this tour, the Symphony Orchestra has also been selected to be the only youth orchestra presented by Leipzig , Germany 's world-famous Gewandhaus during its musical season.

*Please see complete schedule*

About the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras

Founded in 1946 by parents and volunteers who wished to provide a quality orchestral music experience for children, the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras (CYSO) has grown from a single orchestra to a comprehensive family of musical programs designed to provide outstanding opportunities in classical music and resources to all Chicagoland youth. CYSO now directly serves more than 350 musicians ages 7 to 18, over 5,000 Chicago public school students, and over 40,000 audience members each season.

Today's CYSO includes four core orchestras; enrichment through chamber music, theory, and a select chamber orchestra; performance opportunities for young adults who are pursuing professional careers in music; extensive work with Chicago Public Schools and collaborations with a wide range of the top music and education organizations, representing a broad spectrum of city life and entertainment. The CYSO is a long-time resident in the historic Fine Arts Building, just blocks from its primary performance venue— Symphony Center 's world renowned Orchestra Hall.

The CYSO is internationally recognized for producing the next generation of professional musicians. Notably, 100% of CYSO students pursue college studies, with approximately 75% of each year's graduating class continuing their music training at some of the nation's finest conservatories, colleges and universities. Many go on to play professionally in the top orchestras in the nation and abroad.

The CYSO continues to be acknowledged as one of the premier institutions of its kind in the United States . Recently, the organization received its 6th award for adventurous programming from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP); the CYSO performed at the 2005 Chicago Humanities Festival, was featured on Public Radio International's syndicated From the Top radio show; and was the only Illinois orchestra invited to perform at the prestigious Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, an international conference of instrumental music educators.

The CYSO has given students the best performance opportunities available. The Symphony Orchestra performs at Symphony Center 's Orchestra Hall twice per season and has delighted audiences at Grant Park Music Festival, Ravinia Festival, the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam , The National Hall in the Palace of the Arts in Budapest , The Rudofinium in Prague and Carnegie Hall.

For more information visit www.cyso.org

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60 th Anniversary Schedule of Events: Listen to the Future

Summer Orchestra Celebrates Ravinia's 101 st Birthday Celebration

Sunday, August 20, 2006 at 2:00 p.m.
Ravinia Festival
Lake Cook and Green Bay Roads
Highland Park , Illinois
Stephen Burns, conductor
Family day of music, games, rides and fun!
Tickets: General admission 25 cents; Pavilion tickets available at the Ravinia box office or www.ravinia.org
Works by: de Falla, Marquez, Moz art

Sy mp hony Orchestra at CSO's Day of Music Community Sing-a-long

Saturday, September 16, 2006 at 3:00 p.m.
Symphony Center , Orchestra Hall
220 S. Michigan Avenue
Chicago , Illinois
Free and open to the public

Encore Chamber Orchestra at the Chicago History Museum

Sunday, October 1, 2006 at 3:00 p.m.
Chicago History Museum
Clark Street and North Avenue
Chicago , Illinois
Allen Tinkham, conductor
Celebrate the Grand Re-opening of the Chicago History Museum
Free and open to the public
Works by: Copland, Dédé, Gould, Schumann, Tho mp son

Symphony Orchestra Fall Orchestra Hall Concert

Sunday, November 12, 2006 at 7:30 p.m.
Symphony Center , Orchestra Hall
220 S. Michigan Avenue
Chicago , Illinois
Allen Tinkham, conductor
Tickets: $15-$50; children 6 and under free; seniors $10
For tickets or more information call the CYSO Box Office at (312) 939-2207 extension 41 or visit www.cyso.org
Works by: Brahms, Daugherty, Glazunov

Debut Orchestra and Preparatory Strings Fall Concert

Tuesday, November 21, 2006 at 7:30 p.m.
DePaul University Concert Hall
800 W. Belden Avenue
Chicago , Illinois
Terrance Oliveras Gray, conductor
Free and Open to the public

Concert Orchestra Fall Concert

Tuesday, December 05, 2006 at 7:30 p.m.
Chicago Cultural Center
Sidney R. Yates Gallery
78 E. Washington Street
Chicago , Illinois
Terrance Oliveras Gray, conductor
Carmen Abelson, violin
Sang-Joon Won, clarinet
Free and open to the public.
Works by: Dvorák, Haydn, Moz art , Sparr

The Nutcracker presented by the Symphony Orchestra and Salt Creek Ballet

Saturday, December 09, 2006 at 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.
Governors State University
Center for Performing Arts
1 University Parkway
University Park , Illinois
Allen Tinkham, conductor
Tickets: $25 - $36
For tickets or more information call (708) 235-2222 or visit www.centertickets.net

Winter Chamber Music Recital

Sunday, January 21, 2007 at 6:00 p.m.
Roosevelt University
Ganz Hall, seventh floor
430 S. Michigan Avenue
Chicago , Illinois
Kathie Johnson, Director of Chamber Music
Concert free and open to the public

60 th Anniversary Gala Celebration

Saturday, February 3, 2007 at 6:30 p.m.
Westin Chicago River North
Grand Ballroom
320 N. Dearborn Street
Chicago , Illinois
Tickets: $300, with sponsorship opportunities available
For tickets or more information, please call (312) 939-2207 extension 31

CYSO and the Chicago Sinfonietta

Sunday, March 18, 2007 at 2:30 p.m.
Dominican University , Lund Auditorium
7900 W. Division Street
River Forest , IL
Monday, March 19, 2007 at 7:30 p.m.
Sy mp hony Center , Orchestra Hall
220 S. Michigan Avenue
Chicago , Illinois
Paul Freeman, conductor
For tickets or more information call the Sinfonietta at (312) 236-3681 extension 2 or visit www.chicagosinfonietta.org

Encore Chamber Orchestra

Saturday, April 14, 2007 at 7:30 p.m.
Roosevelt University
Ganz Hall, seventh floor
430 S. Michigan Avenue
Chicago , Illinois
Allen Tinkham, conductor
Julia Coronelli, harp
Benjamin Lash, cello
Concert free and open to the public
Works by: Beethoven, Pierné, Shostakovich

Concert Orchestra at Mandel Hall

Sunday, April 22, 2007 at 3:00 p.m.
University of Chicago
Mandel Hall
1131 East 57 th Street
Chicago , Illinois
Terrance Oliveras Gray, conductor
Tickets: Adults $15; Students $10
For tickets or more information call the CYSO Box Office at (312) 939-2207 extension 41 or visit www.cyso.org
Works by: Elgar, Gershwin, Rimsky-Korsakov, Shostakovich

Debut Orchestra and Preparatory Strings at Northeastern Illinois University

Tuesday, May 01, 2007 at 7:30 p.m.
Northeastern Illinois University
Fine Arts Center Auditorium
5500 N. St. Louis Ave
Chicago , Illinois
Terrance Oliveras Gray, conductor
Concert free and open to the public

Sy mp hony Orchestra at Bolingbrook High School

Sunday, May 06, 2007 at 2:00 p.m.
Bolingbrook High School
365 Raider Way
Bolingbrook , IL
Allen Tinkham , conductor
Free and open to the public.
Works by: Barber, Hindemith, Strauss, Turnage

Spring Chamber Music Recital

Tuesday, May 08, 2007 at 6:30 p.m.
Roosevelt University
Ganz Hall, seventh floor
430 S. Michigan Avenue
Chicago , Illinois
Kathie Johnson, Director of Chamber Music
Free and open to the public

Symphony Orchestra Spring Orchestra Hall Concert

Sunday, May 13, 2007 at 7:30 p.m.
Symphony Center , Orchestra Hall
220 S. Michigan Avenue
Chicago , Illinois
Allen Tinkham , conductor
Also featuring the Concert Orchestra and conductor Terrance Oliveras Gray
Tickets: $15-$50; children 6 and under free; seniors $10
For tickets or more information call the CYSO Box Office at (312) 939-2207 extension 45 or visit www.cyso.org
Works by: Barber, Hindemith, Shostakovich, Strauss, Turnage

Fourth Presbyterian Noonday Concert Series

Second Friday of the month at 12:10 p.m.
Fourth Presbyterian Church
126 E. Chestnut St , Chicago
Free and open to the public.