Role

:

Ensemble

Period

:

Modern

Genre

:

Orchestral

 

The Oakland Youth Orchestra is a classical music ensemble based in Oakland, California. Founded in 1966, the orchestra has been a staple of the Bay Area music scene for over 50 years. The orchestra was founded by a group of parents and music educators who saw a need for a high-quality youth orchestra in the East Bay. The founding members included conductor and music educator Robert Hughes, who served as the orchestra's first music director. Over the years, the orchestra has been led by a number of distinguished conductors, including Michael Morgan, who served as music director from 1986 to 1992. Under Morgan's leadership, the orchestra gained national recognition for its innovative programming and high level of musicianship. Today, the Oakland Youth Orchestra is led by music director Omid Zoufonoun, who has been with the orchestra since 2014. Zoufonoun is a graduate of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and has conducted orchestras throughout the United States and Europe. The orchestra is made up of talented young musicians from throughout the Bay Area, ranging in age from 12 to 22. Many of the orchestra's members go on to pursue careers in music, and the orchestra has a strong track record of producing successful musicians. Over the years, the Oakland Youth Orchestra has performed at some of the Bay Area's most prestigious venues, including the San Francisco Symphony Hall and the Oakland Paramount Theatre. The orchestra has also toured internationally, performing in countries such as China and Italy. One of the orchestra's most notable performances was its 50th anniversary concert, which took place in 2016 at the Paramount Theatre in Oakland. The concert featured a program of classical favorites, including Beethoven's Symphony No. 5 and Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5. In addition to its performances, the Oakland Youth Orchestra has also received numerous awards and accolades over the years. In 2015, the orchestra was awarded the prestigious ASCAP Award for Adventurous Programming, which recognizes orchestras that demonstrate a commitment to contemporary music and innovative programming. The orchestra has also been recognized for its commitment to music education. In 2017, the orchestra was awarded a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to support its music education programs, which provide free music lessons and instrument rentals to underserved youth in the Bay Area. Overall, the Oakland Youth Orchestra has established itself as one of the Bay Area's premier classical music ensembles. With a commitment to excellence in performance and education, the orchestra continues to inspire and engage audiences throughout the region and beyond.

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