Carnegie Hall

(NEW YORK, NY; June 16, 2025)—This July, nearly 100 outstanding teen musicians from 29 states plus the District of Columbia come together to form this year’s edition of the National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America (NYO-USA). Following an intensive two-week training residency at Purchase College, State University of New York (SUNY) and a concert in Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage on July 20, this talented group of instrumentalists (ages 16–19), embark on a six-city Asian tour from July 22 through August 6. Led by Gianandrea Noseda, the repertoire for NYO-USA’s concert at Carnegie Hall and on tour includes Carlos Simon’s Festive Fanfare and Overture (co-commissioned by Carnegie Hall), Felix Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E Minor, and Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2.

NYO-USA’s tour stops this summer include debuts in Japan at The Symphony Hall in Osaka (July 24) and Suntory Hall in Tokyo (July 26); return visits to the Hong Kong Cultural Centre (July 28), the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing (July 30), and the Shanghai Oriental Art Center (August 3) featuring violinist Ray Chen; and a closing performance featuring guest soloist Clara-Jumi Kang at the Seoul Arts Center (August 6).

While on tour in Asia, the NYO-USA musicians will have the chance to take part in peer-to-peer exchange with young musicians as well as tour the magnificent cities in which they will perform. This marks NYO-USA’s third tour to Asia and first performances in Japan. Cultural exchange is a key part of participating in NYO-USA, as members act as dynamic musical ambassadors for their country. Click here to watch a video on the impact of cultural exchange within Carnegie Hall’s national youth ensembles.

The orchestra’s New York City concert at Carnegie Hall on July 20 will be heard by music lovers worldwide through the Carnegie Hall Live radio broadcast and digital series, created in partnership with WQXR.

“This summer will be one of NYO-USA’s most exciting, as the orchestra returns to Asia and makes its debut in Japan,” said Clive Gillinson, Carnegie Hall’s Executive and Artistic Director. “Following their Carnegie Hall performance, these remarkable players embark on two weeks of concerts, travel, and cultural exchange with peer musicians. We are thrilled that NYO-USA will have the opportunity to perform in Japan, as a wonderful part of our long-standing partnership with Tokyo’s Suntory Hall. The tour promises to offer truly memorable life-changing experiences for these young players, as they connect with music lovers wherever they go, serving as dynamic ambassadors for our country.”

On NYO-USA’s debut performances in Japan, cellist and Suntory Hall President Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi said: “I am so proud that this project will be the brightest highlight of our 20-year partnership with Carnegie Hall. Carnegie Hall is the world’s leading concert hall recognized as the ‘Music Hall of Fame’ in Japan with its great tradition of social commitment and initiatives to create the music scene of the next generation. In that aspect, NYO-USA is the orchestra symbolizing Carnegie Hall's DNA, and the orchestra reminds us of the fundamental joy of music through the passionate and vigorous performances by young musicians. I hope the passion of young musicians will make an enormous impression on the Japanese audience, and their performance will be a precious opportunity to inspire young people in Japan, which will build the momentum for further development of music and culture.”

“Now what makes these concerts more than just a performance, is that it’s a celebration,” said violinist Ray Chen. “We’re celebrating the next generation – these hard-working, passionate, insanely talented young musicians, who represent the future of classical music in America. And to top it all off we’ll be taking this program with us to tour in Asia, we’ll be heading to cities like Hong Kong, Tokyo, Osaka, Beijing, and Shanghai. Can you imagine how exciting it’s going to be?”

The members of the 2025 orchestra—ages 16–19, hailing from 29 states plus the District of Columbia—have been recognized by Carnegie Hall as being among the finest players in the country following a comprehensive and highly selective audition process. This summer’s orchestra features 29 musicians who gained experience through NYO2, a program for younger players ages 14–17. NYO-USA and NYO2 are offered free of charge, ensuring that all invited musicians have the opportunity to take part. Click here for a full list of musicians.

In preparation for their performances and tour, the musicians arrive on July 5 from across the country to begin their intensive training residency at Purchase College, SUNY, just north of New York City. NYO-USA musicians work with leading players from America’s top professional orchestras and take part in full ensemble and sectional rehearsals, master classes, and more. Conductor James Ross returns as orchestra director to lead NYO-USA during the residency, working closely with 2025 assistant conductor Micah Gleason. Click here to see a full list of this summer’s faculty, as well as bios for Gianandrea Noseda, Ray Chen, and Clara-Jumi Kang.

For high-resolution photos of NYO-USA, Gianandrea Noseda, Ray Chen, and Clara-Jumi Kang for editorial use only, click here. (photo credit required)

About Carnegie Hall’s National Youth Orchestra of the USA
Since 2013, Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute has brought together some of the finest young musicians from across the country (ages 16–19) to form the National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America (NYO-USA). Following a comprehensive audition process and a multi-week training residency at Purchase College, SUNY with faculty made up of principal players from top professional US orchestras, these remarkable teenagers embark on a tour to some of the great music capitals of the world, serving as America’s dynamic music ambassadors. As part of their travel schedule, NYO-USA musicians also have the opportunity to meet and collaborate with local young musicians and experience the richness of the local culture.

NYO-USA has been praised for “exuding vitality and confidence” (The New York Times) in its performances. Following annual concerts at Carnegie Hall, NYO-USA has performed on landmark stages around the world including in Argentina, China, Colombia, Germany, Mexico, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, South Korea, and more as well as across the United States. Last summer, the orchestra took part in a four-city South American tour, following its participation in Carnegie Hall’s historic World Orchestra Week (WOW!) festival in New York City, which brought together more than 700 young musicians from nearly 40 countries for a week of performances and cultural exchange.

NYO-USA is one of Carnegie Hall’s three acclaimed national youth ensembles, which also includes NYO2 for outstanding classical musicians (ages 14–17), and NYO Jazz for the nation’s finest jazz instrumentalists (ages 16–19). Over the last decade, more than 1,500 young musicians have performed in the three ensembles, creating a unique musical community, spotlighting musical excellence found across the United States and transforming countless lives.

To learn more about NYO-USA, visit carnegiehall.org/nyousa.

NYO-USA – Summer 2025 Asia Tour

NATIONAL YOUTH ORCHESTRA OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Gianandrea Noseda, Conductor
Ray Chen, Violin
Clara-Jumi Kang, Violin*

CARLOS SIMON Festive Fanfare and Overture (co-commissioned by Carnegie Hall)
FELIX MENDELSSOHN Violin Concerto in E Minor
RACHMANINOFF Symphony No. 2

*Seoul performance only

The tour schedule is as follows:
(All concerts taking place at listed local times)

Thursday, July 24 at 7:00 p.m.
The Symphony Hall (Osaka, Japan)

Saturday, July 26 at 5:00 p.m.
Suntory Hall (Tokyo, Japan)

Monday, July 28 at 7:30 p.m.
Concert Hall, Hong Kong Cultural Centre (Hong Kong, China)

Wednesday, July 30 at 7:30 p.m.
Concert Hall, National Centre for the Performing Arts (Beijing, China)

Sunday, August 3 at 2:00 p.m.
Concert Hall, Shanghai Oriental Art Center (Shanghai, China)

Wednesday, August 6 at 7:30 p.m.
Concert Hall, Seoul Arts Center (Seoul, South Korea)
 

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Lead Donors: Hope and Robert F. Smith, The Kovner Foundation, and Beatrice Santo Domingo.

Global Ambassadors: Michael ByungJu Kim and Kyung Ah Park, Hope and Robert F. Smith, and Maggie and Richard Tsai.

Major funding has been provided by Ronald E. Blaylock and Petra Pope, Lorraine Buch Fund for Young Artists, the Mark and Anla Cheng Kingdon Foundation, Clive and Anya Gillinson, Pershing Square Philanthropies, Melanie and Jean E. Salata, JMCMRJ Sorrell Foundation, and the Victor and William Fung Foundation.

United Airlines®, Airline Partner to the National Youth Ensembles.

Additional funding has been provided by Sarah Arison, The Jack Benny Family Foundation, Mary I. and John E. Hull, Poongsan Corporation, and Xiaoshan Ren.

Founder Patrons: Blavatnik Family Foundation; Nicola and Beatrice Bulgari; The Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation; Marina Kellen French and the Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Foundation; The Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Family Foundation; Ronald O. Perelman; Robertson Foundation; Beatrice Santo Domingo; Hope and Robert F. Smith; Sarah Billinghurst Solomon and Howard Solomon; and Joan and Sanford I. Weill and the Weill Family Foundation.