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Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras Tour Newsletter

July 2007

Review from the Frederick Chopin Academy of Music

"The power of music - and of young talent - to uplift and heal the human spirit is magical, indeed!" "This evening I enjoyed a wonderful concert - the Chicago Youth Symphony at the Chopin Institute in Warsaw.  They have so much vitality and enthusiasm!  Such a mixtue of ethnic groups - although I have never been to Chicago I could feel the vitality of the place.  What a treat to watch all the lovely young faces concentrating so hard and taking such pleasure in performing!

"This is certainly a life-changing experience." - Trevor Mowry, oboe "The audience was very responsive to our performance.  We played two encores and they still wanted more!" - Chris Sitton, cello

"All of the young people (in the orchestra) have wonderfully enthusiastic passion that they bring to the stage." - Hagen Kunze, Leipzig Wolkszoilung (daily newspaper)

Led by Music Director, Allen Tinkham, Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra recently completed its much anticipated four-city tour of Eastern Europe.  Over the course of twelve days the Orchestra performed through the beautiful cities of Warsaw and Wroclaw, Poland; Prague, Czech Republic; and Leipzig, Germany.

The first concert was performed at the Frederick Chopin Academy of Music in Warsaw.  The warm audiences of Poland's capital city were captivated by the concert; many stayed in the theater lobby to congratulate the students and Mr. Tinkham.  Students had the opportunity to explore the city's old town, which featured thirteenth century architecture and restaurants filled with fine Polish cuisine.

Stop number two was picturesque Wroclaw.  The city boasts many Gothic and Baroque churches, beautiful parks and a completely restored Gothic Market Square.  The orchestra performed to great fanfare at the Filharmonia, home of the Wroclaw Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra.  Students were thrilled to see their name in lights on the huge outdoor display board, and were once again inspired by the continued applause and support of their audience.

The next city on the tour is one of the most stunning and culturally significant in the world, Prague.  The highlight of the Prague stay was a sold-out concert in Smetana Hall.  This concert hall is the biggest in Prague and is situated in the city's Municipal House, a masterpiece in the Art Nouveau style near the old town square.  The hall frequently features some of the world's greatest performers, including the Prague Royal Orchestra.

The final performance was at the world-famous Gewandhaus in Leipzig, Germany. The "Grosses" or Grand Concert Hall was designed by Rudolf Skoda, and was made possible by the determination of respected conductor Kurt Masur. The audience was amazed by the orchestra's performance featuring Strauss' Death and Transfiguration, leading one reporter to remark: "The audience went crazy over what they heard and through standing ovations earned two encores by Glinka and Brahms, composers who lend a clearly European touch to the program of a youth ensemble acting as cultural ambassadors of their country and their city."

CYSO's young musicians experienced some of the greatest cities in Europe, performed in fabulous concert halls, and were enthusiastically welcomed by each local audience. The success of the tour is a testament to the talent and drive of CYSO's young musicians.

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