Norwalk Youth Symphony adapts, charts new ways to perform despite pandemic

The Norwalk Youth Symphony’s (NYS) 150 musicians haven’t missed a beat this fall in learning and playing classical music, even during the Coronavirus pandemic.

Although its orchestras have been unable to rehearse in person, NYS has found creative ways to expand its programming for its musicians, ranging from fourth to 12th grades. Along with its regular program of five orchestras at different experience levels, NYS has added chamber music ensembles, a series of master classes featuring musicians from top-ranked orchestras, and lessons in music theory.

Now in its 65th year, NYS provides classical music instruction and performance opportunities to young musicians throughout Fairfield and Westchester counties.

Along with the expanded offerings for students, the NYS has run a weekly series of music appreciation discussions for adults, led by the conductors of its Principal and Concert orchestras. Starting in January, NYS will offer seminars geared toward high school students and adults on various music-related topics, including “Women and the American Sound,” “The Roaring Harlem Renaissance,” “One Thousand Years of Music in 60 Minutes,” and “Alma Mahler and her Times,” to name a few.

NYS Executive Director Sara Watkins commended the music staff for expanding the program in innovative ways and the students for their enthusiasm and readiness to adapt to the challenges imposed by the pandemic. “Under the circumstances,” she said, “we had to rethink our program and increase our reliance on technology.”

Increasing the use of technology has led to unexpected benefits. “These are challenging times,” Jonathan Yates, NYS music director, said introducing the first of the master classes. “But because technology increases accessibility, we’ve been able to bring in artists renowned for their musicianship that we might not have been able to get in normal times.”

In the first of the master classes, the students received individual coaching on their instruments from the internationally acclaimed violinist James Ehnes, the New York Philharmonic’s principal clarinetist Anthony McGill and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s trumpeter Tage Larsen. In each case, the musicians spoke about their careers, how they approach playing and performing and coached several NYS musicians one-on-one.

“It was incredible to get feedback and guidance from a member of the New York Philharmonic and to watch him work with other wind players from our orchestra,” said one of the NYS Principal Orchestra musicians, a senior. “I have incorporated his advice into my practice routine, and it’s been so helpful.”

The NYS’s music appreciation seminars are another first. Led by Yates and Concert Orchestra Conductor Russell Ger, these well received, interactive classes have explored works such as Beethoven’s Ninth and Berlioz’s Symphony Fantastique, and discussed the career of the great violinist Itzhak Perlman, with whom Ger has toured as conductor. Yates and Ger have shared their understanding of the composers’ themes and techniques, using excerpts from concert performances to demonstrate why the music continues to move audiences after hundreds of years. Adult education classes will resume in February and are open to the public.

NYS has also added a seminar for parents on motivating young musicians and another for the students, “Practice Techniques for String Players.”

Following its regular schedule, NYS large ensembles rehearse on Sundays. But rather than playing as a full orchestra, the musicians are playing remotely from their homes in sections by instrument, allowing students more personalized attention. Since each section rehearsal takes less time, NYS was able to add optional chamber music and music theory to its offerings for the students.

“By its nature, orchestral music is a collaborative activity, it’s meant to be played in the same place by musicians who have worked together and rehearsed together,” Yates said. “But by being creative and diligent, I’m proud of how our young musicians have risen to the challenges and adapted to using technology to create their music. Even though they’re not sitting next to each other as they play, they’re creating music of exceptional depth and quality.”

Playing in chamber ensembles broadens the musicians’ skills to communicate and cue each other as they’re playing without a conductor. As one of the musicians new to chamber playing said: “Participating in a small ensemble has expanded my performance skillset and has given me opportunities to form friendships with other Principal Orchestra musicians with whom I wouldn’t normally interact with.”

Parents interested in having their children in grades four through 12 join NYS may learn more and register on the NYS website (www.norwalkyouthsymphony.org). They may also contact Watkins at the organization’s office, 203-866-4100 or by email, nysed@optonline.net.