Norwalk Youth Symphony offers bassoon, French horn scholarships

The Norwalk Youth Symphony (NYS), now in its 62nd year, is looking for talented musicians to play bassoon and French horn in its Principal orchestra this season. If selected on the basis of an audition, NYS will provide one young musician on each instrument with a scholarship to the program, covering tuition and season tickets.

The scholarship recipients are only responsible for the $25 music fee, and snack fee, also $25. In addition to the Principal Orchestra, the musicians also must be willing to perform with the Concert Orchestra and the Philharmonia Winds, as necessary.

“We have an exciting program this year, beginning with the Principal Orchestra playing Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony at the November concert,” said NYS Executive Director (or NYS Musical Director, Jonathan Yates). “We still have openings for a bassoonist and a French horn player and, for the first time, we’re offering merit scholarships to fill those positions.”

Known for the high level quality of its performances, the Norwalk Youth Symphony has provided young musicians with an outstanding music education and the opportunity to perform in three concerts during the year. Across its different music programs, NYS serves nearly 260 musicians, representing more than 30 area towns.

After the season ends with the Mother’s Day concert, members of the Principal and Concert orchestras may sign up for the NYS planned concert tour to Portugal and Spain, scheduled for June 23 to July 1.

Many NYS graduates go on to study professionally at conservatories and music schools, such as Juilliard, Eastman, Manhattan School of Music, Berklee College of Music and Hartt College of Music, to name a few. Other graduates have played in college orchestras at Yale, Harvard, Dartmouth and Wellesley, among others.

NYS now has two full symphonic orchestras, its Principal and Concert orchestras; three string orchestras and one wind ensemble. In addition, NYS also hosts chamber groups and a brass ensemble.

Musicians usually rehearse on Sunday afternoons, with an additional rehearsal typically during the week prior to a concert. The first NYS concert of the season is Nov. 19, 3 p.m., at Norwalk Concert Hall.