A Glorious Celebration: 40 Years of Our Young Musicians Concert

The 40th Annual Young Musicians Concert, held on Thursday, May 9, 2024, at Alice Tully Hall, was a resounding success. Hosted by Resident Lecturer Bruce Adolphe, the event showcased the exceptional talents of young musicians from across the tristate area. With many alumni of the program in attendance, this year’s concert was not only a celebration of youth and music but also a testament to the enduring power of chamber music. The concert featured students from 12 high schools, each bringing their unique flair and musical prowess to the stage.

Performing Schools:

• Academy of the Holy Angels, Demarest, NJ
• Austin Chamber Music Center’s Coltman Chamber Music Competition, Austin, TX
• Bergen County Academies, Hackensack, NJ
• Edgemont Union Free School District, Scarsdale, NY
• Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, New York, NY
• Herricks High School, New Hyde Park, NY
• Hunter College High School, New York, NY
• Manhasset High School, Manhasset, NY
• Ridgewood High School, Ridgewood, NJ
• Special Music School High School, New York, NY
• Stuyvesant High School, New York, NY
• William A. Shine – Great Neck South High School, Great Neck, NY

The program featured a range of pieces, from Mendelssohn’s Trio in C minor to Andrés Martín’s Tres Tangos. Highlights included Prokofiev’s Quartet No. 2, Shostakovich’s Trio No. 2, and Chad Floyd’s Tombolo. The concert concluded with Brahms’s Trio in A minor by Special Music School High School.

A memorable performance was Beethoven’s String Quartet No. 14 by the Evie Quartet, the Junior Division Winners of the Austin Chamber Music Center’s Coltman Chamber Music Competition. As part of their winnings, they performed as guests of the Young Musicians Concert.

Special thanks to Bergen County Academies and Great Neck South High School for hosting the regional concerts as part of this program.

As the junior division of the Young Musicians Program, the Young Ensembles Program’s mission is to refine young musical talents in the spirit of chamber music, fostering both individual growth and collaborative excellence. Selected from a competitive pool of applicants, participants receive a 1-hour coaching session from Chamber Music Society artists and a performance etiquette workshop to prepare them for their performance at the Daniel and Joanna S. Rose Studio on Lincoln Center Campus.

This year’s program features 14 ensembles performing standard chamber music repertoire in a 2-hour performance on Thursday, May 23, 2024, at 11 AM in the Daniel and Joanna S. Rose Studio on Lincoln Center Campus.

Performing Schools:

• Great Neck South Middle School, Great Neck, NY
• Harmony Program, New York, NY
• B. Thompson Middle School, Syosset, NY
• Hunter College High School, New York, NY
• Special Music School, New York, NY
• Tenafly Middle School, Tenafly, NJ

These events celebrated the extraordinary dedication and talent of young musicians, promising a bright future for chamber music. Thank you to all who attended and supported this memorable event!