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Publicity releases, specific photos and news items will be posted on this page, including links to outside instrumental organizations, competitions and events.
Members of the press who need additional information or photos should contact the ECYS office:
ecys@earthlink.net
650-327-2611
ECYS musicians and parents are welcome to submit news about their accomplishments, recitals, or any information that they would like to post. (Example: Honor Band/Orchestra, school awards, music awards, etc.)
The ECYS office reserves the right to edit or to omit and item or information that is not deemed appropriate.
In the News
The October 27 2007 Symphony Season Opener at Flint Center was a huge success! Bravo to the orchestra and to our audience, who filled the hall. Critic Keith Kreitman said, "...the orchestra demonstrated the full beauty of its power and timber in a rousing reading of Georges Enesco’s “Rumanian Rhapsody No. 1” and in the “Symphony No.2 in D Major, Op. 73” by Johannes Brahms...." The performance was featured in the World Journal Newpaper, read about it here!
A Musical Journey Renowned Conductor Brings Verve And Fun To Youth Orchestra
San Jose Mercury News – "From that moment my hope was to be a conductor. I knew I had something more in me to give than to be a small screw in a big machine. But in Russian life, it was impossible for a woman to become a conductor. I saw that film eight times and studied it. The wish to be a conductor became stronger each time. I told my violin teacher; he said I was crazy because women cannot be conductors. I decided: 'He say no, but I will be a conductor.'"
Read more (PDF 136KB)
Conducting Youth Fulfilling For Cellist
San Jose Mercury News – "People who really know Michail Gelfandbein as an artist are sometimes shocked when they find out that he is conducting our beginning orchestra, Chamber Players," says El Camino's Cathy Spieth. "Most of the students have no idea that their conductor has played in the greatest halls in the world, been conducted by (Mstislav) Rostropovich and (Dmitri) Shostakovich, performed premieres in Leningrad of major pieces."
Read more (PDF 112KB)
Youth Symphony Served By Soloist's Experience
San Jose Mercury News – "Even without having much experience, they can feel the music," (Barantschik) said. "What is most important is for young kids to be together, to play with a professional, wonderful conductor, and to play such beautiful music. To me it's enough to see their eyes."
Read more (PDF 116KB)
Press Releases & Photos
Robert Chen , concertmaster of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, to perform with the Senior Symphony in March 2006.
Chicago Concertmaster Robert Chen to fly in from Chicago as a replacement for David Kim
ECYS Press Release - "On Thursday March 16 Cathy Spieth, Executive Director of the Palo Alto based El Camino Youth Symphony, received the call that every orchestra director dreads... a famous guest soloist was cancelling, only nine days prior to his performances of the Brahm’s Violin Concerto. Luckily, Philadelphia Orchestra Concertmaster David Kim is a violinist with friends in high places.........."
Reviews
El Camino Youth Symphony dazzles
Los Altos Town Crier – When I opened the program at the season premier of the El Camino Youth Symphony in Spangenberg Theatre at Palo Alto's Gunn High School, I was struck by the audacity of music director Dr. Camilla Kolchinsky's programming for this orchestra of middle and high school students.
The first piece was the Brahms Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 68, one of the monumental pillars of Western serious music, and the players sat there, wrapped in black formals, confident and secure in what they were about to undertake.
Read more (PDF 68KB)
General Information
Congratulations Patrick!
Wind Orchestra and Percussion Ensemble member Patrick O'Konski is a member of the 2006 Santa Clara County Honor Band and the 2006 California State Honor Band.
Playing music can be good for your brain
Stanford study finds it helps the understanding of language
SF Chronicle – Stanford University research has found for the first time that musical training improves how the brain processes the spoken word, a finding that researchers say could lead to improving the reading ability of children who have dyslexia and other reading problems.
The study, made public Wednesday, is the first to show that musical experience can help the brain improve its ability to distinguish between rapidly changing sounds that are key to understanding and using language.
The research also eventually could provide the "why" behind other studies that have found that playing a musical instrument has cognitive benefits.
Read more (PDF 96KB)
ECYS Office: 650-327-2611 • Musician's Line: 650-327-3369 • © 2006 El Camino Youth Symphony Association