Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra Youth Programs

The Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra in the Community

The RSO is one of the most important contributors to the cultural life of Ridgefield and the surrounding community. This includes the programs that have been developed for our young people. These include our annual Family Concert, the annual Youth Competition, Youth Concerts for the students of the Ridgefield Public Schools, and our newest venture – The Ridgefield Symphony Youth Orchestra.

Concerts and Scheduled Activities

December 13, 2003	Field Trip to NY Philharmonic Orchestra
December 14, 2003 4:00 pm	Concert at Veterans Park Elementary School Beethoven- Symphony No. 7 in A 2nd Movement Allegretto Haydn- Symphony No. 104 in D “London” 1st Movement Adagio-Alegro Copland- Appalachian Spring “Simple Gifts” Ives- The Unanswered Question
April 25, 2004	Concert at Veterans Park Elementary School (To Be Announced)
May 16, 2004	Fund Concert at Veterans Park Elementary School (To Be Announced)

Family Concert
The Family Concert consists of a program of about one hour of classical music designed to appeal to children from 4 to 12 and their parents and grandparents. Last season featured A Salute to Broadway, and on November 16, 2003, we will present The Musical Mime featuring Dan Kamin, a world-renowned mime and the RSO.

Youth Competition
The Youth Competition is open to music students in grades 6 through 12 in the categories of piano, winds, and strings. The participants play a seven-minute segment of a composition of their own selection before a panel of judges. Cash prizes are awarded for first, second and third place and a grand prize may also be presented. The winners are invited to play their selection in a recital that is open to the public. In addition, the grand prizewinner may be invited to play with the RSO at a Youth Concert later in the season. This year, the competition will be held on October 4, 2003 at Veteran’s park School and the recital will be held on October 26th, also at VPS.

Youth Concerts
The Youth Concerts are held in the spring at one of the Ridgefield Public Schools. Last season, the RSO played for the students of Ridgefield High School, and the year before the concerts were given for the students of East Ridge Middle School. The schedule for the 2003-04 season has not been finalized at this time.

Ridgefield Symphony Youth Orchestra
The RSYO was formed in January of 2003. Musicians in grades 6 through 12 auditioned for a position in the RSYO. The successful applicants rehearsed weekly under the guidance of Jonathan Schiffman, their Music Director, and the Assistant Conductor of the RSO. The RSYO made their debut in May at the Ridgefield Playhouse to critical acclaim. Auditions for the 2003-04 season will be held on September 21st under the guidance of Ankush Bahl, the new Music Director of the RSYO. He succeeds Mr. Schiffman who is currently studying composition in France under a Fulbright scholarship.

The Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra
P.O. Box 289, Ridgefield, CT 06877
Tel:(203) 438-3889 Fax:(203)438-0222
E-mail: info@ridgefieldsymphony.org