High School junior Joshua Elmore and senior Grant Zempolich have been selected to play with the National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America (NYO-USA), an elite group of high school musicians aged 16-19. Students are selected based upon audition videos.
Each summer, Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute brings together the brightest young players from across the country to form NYO-USA. Following a two-week training residency with leading professional orchestra musicians, the musicians will play on the famed stage of Carnegie Hall.
Following the concert, NYO-USA will embark on a tour of Asia in July 2015, giving seven concerts in China in some of the greatest concert halls across several different regions of the country.
Led by Charles Dutoit, the orchestra’s concert program will include the premiere of a new work from award-winning Chinese composer Tan Dun, commissioned by Carnegie Hall for NYO-USA; Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5 (“Emperor”) with guest soloist Li Yundi; and Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique.
Joshua, who plays bassoon, is a member of the Wind Ensemble directed by Bill Hughes. Grant, who plays cello, is a member of the High School Chamber Orchestra directed by Donna Jelen. This is the second year in a row that Grant was selected for the honor. All of the students’ expenses are paid by NYO-USA.