Carnegie Hall

NYO2 was founded in 2016 with a special interest in recruiting talented young musicians ages 14–17, particularly those who come from backgrounds traditionally underserved by and underrepresented in classical music. A sister ensemble to the National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America (NYO-USA) for outstanding young players ages 16–19, NYO2 educates musicians, many of whom go on to play for both ensembles as they grow. Growth is the watchword for NYO2, which continues to develop exciting opportunities, including a new international residency.

NYO2’s mission to create an orchestra that welcomes young musicians from backgrounds underrepresented in the field takes a step toward a richer and more diverse future for classical music. The program also serves as a jumping-off point for many teen musicians seeking further opportunities as they get older. A recent research report by WolfBrown explored diversity in NYO2 on a deep level, conducting a longitudinal study of NYO2’s demographics over the ensemble’s lifetime.

From the beginning, NYO2 has drawn stellar artists to its podium and programs. The orchestra has shined under the batons of Giancarlo Guerrero, Carlos Miguel Prieto, and Mei-Ann Chen, alongside superstar soloists such as Esperanza Spalding, Gil Shaham, and Gabriela Montero. More recently, the orchestra has begun to commission exciting new works from contemporary composers, such as the 2021 work Side by Side by Molly Joyce.

Since its inception, NYO2 has been completely free, ensuring equitable access for musicians across the country. All applicants audition from wherever they are via video and receive helpful feedback from the professional musicians on the jury regardless of admission. Each iteration of the orchestra so far has come together for an intensive training residency at Purchase College, State University of New York, and performed at Carnegie Hall. Since its inception, the orchestra has taken to the stage at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia, and for many years, traveled to Miami Beach for a residency at the New World Center.

This summer, NYO2 is taking its exuberant music-making beyond the shores of the United States. In 2023, NYO2 embarks on its first international residency and concerts in the Dominican Republic, where the musicians will give two performances presented by Fundación Sinfonía and take part in cross-cultural youth exchange activities, serving as musical ambassadors for their country. They will be led by conductor Joseph Young, who has mentored and prepared NYO2 as resident conductor for five years, and perform alongside violinist Jennifer Koh, who joins as guest soloist.

Even if you can’t travel to New York or the Dominican Republic to hear NYO2, you can still attend a concert. NYO2 meticulously records and documents each summer’s concerts and activities, cultivating a rich library of digital experiences, from livestreams to full concert videos. The musicians have even put together a few orchestral music videos. The orchestra partners with streaming services to bring selected concerts online, but if you miss one, there’s even more to discover on NYO2’s YouTube channel.

Photography: Young by Fadi Kheir, all other photography by Chris Lee