Experience Chamber Music

The New York Youth Symphony’s Chamber Music Program (CMP) was founded in 1983 to foster the growth of musicians in an intimate setting. Over 2,000 students between the ages of 12-22 have participated in the CMP since its inception and it has become one of the most comprehensive training programs in the country for strings, winds, brass, and piano.

The CMP combines high standards, immersion in contemporary and core repertoire, and performances at venues including Scandinavia House, Frederick R. Koch Foundation Townhouse, MET Museum and Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, with development of extra-musical skill sets such as public speaking, networking, and advocacy to ensure students’ growth as both musicians and citizens.

Under the direction of violinist Dr. Lisa Tipton, approximately 100 students each season participate in competitive auditions adjudicated by CMP faculty, and form ensembles including string quartets, piano trios, woodwind and brass quintets, and more. The ensembles choose their repertoire in consultation with their coach, rehearse independently, and receive regular coachings every other week. Bi-annual assessments monitor each ensemble’s progress.

Participants in the CMP have the opportunity to play for professional world class chamber players in masterclasses. Recent masterclass guests have included:

• Rebecca Fischer, violin (The Afield, Chiara Quartet, Mannes School of Music)
• Hsin-Yun Huang, viola (Curtis Institute of Music, The Juilliard School)
• Khari Joyner, cello (The Juilliard School)
• Gilbert Kalish, piano (Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center)
• Ani Kavafian, violin (Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and Yale School of Music)
• Dana Kelley, viola (Orpheus, Sphinx, Argus Quartet, The Knights)
• Joel Krosnick, cello (Juilliard Quartet)
• Wolfram Koessel, cello (Manhattan School of Music, Aspen Music Festival)
• Anne-Marie McDermott, piano (Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Vail Music Festival, Angel Fire)
• Anthony McGill, clarinet (NY Philharmonic, The Juilliard School, Curtis Institute of Music, Bard College)
• Daniel Phillips, violin (Orion Quartet, The Juilliard School, Bard College, Queens College)
• Orli Shaham, piano (The Juilliard School, Columbia University, Orli Shaham’s Bach Yard)
• Fred Sherry, cello (Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, The Juilliard School)
• Toyin Spellman-Diaz, oboe (Imani Winds)
• Melissa White, violin (Harlem Quartet)
• Amy Yang, piano (University of Pennsylvania, Curtis Institute of Music)
• Astrid Schween, cello (Juilliard Quartet)
• Brandon Patrick George, flute (Imani Winds, Curtis Institute of Music)
• Pavel Vinnitsky, clarinet (Cincinnati Conservatory)
• Jaime Amador, viola (Harlem String Quartet)
• Aizuri Quartet
• Shai Wosner, piano
• Inon Barnaton, piano

Integral to curriculum of the Chamber Music program is introducing and promoting repertoire by composers from diverse culture where student ensembles select at least one piece by a composer from a background that has been historically underrepresented in the classical music sphere – including Black, Latinx, Arabic, Asian, Indigenous, Middle Eastern, LGBTQIA+, and Women – and perform it throughout the season.