San Diego Youth Symphony and Conservatory (SDYS) is proud to announce the arrival of twenty-four international student musicians representing 9 countries for our 15th annual International Youth Symphony (IYS) program. Each year, top musicians from around the world travel to San Diego with assistance and support from Rotary District 5340’s International Youth Exchange program. Our international guests rehearse alongside top SDYS musicians beginning July 15, under the direction of SDYS Music Director Jeff Edmons, who enters his 24th season with SDYS.
The program includes several performance opportunities including a free concert at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion on Tuesday, July 23 at 6:30pm and a featured concert at California Center for the Arts in Escondido on Saturday, July 27 at 4pm. Open rehearsals, held in Balboa Park, are a free opportunity for visitors to enjoy concert repertoire in a casual setting.
Repertoire to be heard during rehearsals and performed at both concerts will include Mozart’s Overture Così fan tutte, Haydn’s Symphony No. 104 in D Major “London”, and Beethoven’s Symphony No.1 in C Major.
Rotary District 5340 encourages young leaders to excel at life through its many youth specific programs, including MusicCamp International Youth Symphony. Delivered in partnership with SDYS, IYS is the only program of its kind in Rotary, providing all students with the opportunity to perform classical repertoire at the highest level while engaging in life-changing social and cultural experiences in music and the community.
Maestro Edmons said of the IYS program, “Since 2005, our unique partnership program has allowed IYS students to experience two weeks of impactful orchestral rehearsals and performances of the highest caliber in premiere Concert and Community venues while sharing the universal bond of friendship through music. The IYS program provides a unique holistic educational approach to the musical, interpersonal and social experiences for all its musicians – both from SDYS and abroad – and it fosters lasting friendships which these musicians continue to share for a lifetime.”
This year, SDYS welcomes exceptional musicians who successfully auditioned to be accepted into the program and hail from Croatia, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and Ukraine.
Gary McElroy, Committee Chair of the District 5340 MusiCamp Youth Exchange said of the IYS program, “Our Rotary MusiCamp youth exchange allows students to unlock their true potential to develop lifelong leadership skills, function in a second language, observe a new culture, build lasting friendships with other young people from around the world and become global citizens.”
Tickets for the July 27th concert at California Center for the Arts in Escondido range from $10-$25 and are available via the SDYS website at www.sdys.org, or by calling (619)233-3232 ext. 115.
Full orchestra rehearsals take place Monday, July 15 through Friday July 26 (with the exception of July 25) from 8:30am to 1:00pm at the Hall of Nations in Balboa Park. All rehearsals are open to the public. Please visit our website for specific date and location information for all events.
For more information about the San Diego Youth Symphony and Conservatory or to make a donation, call 619.233.3232 or visit www.sdys.org.
Event Details
July 15 – 19, July 22 – 24 & 26- 8:00am – 1pm
IYS Open Rehearsals
Hall of Nations in the House of Pacific Relations, International Cottages, in Balboa Park
2191 W. Pan American Road, San Diego, CA 92101
Tuesday, July 23, 6:30pm
IYS Twilight in the Park Concert
Spreckels Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park
No charge for admission.
Saturday, July 27, 4pm
IYS Orchestra Concert
California Center for the Arts, Escondido
340 N. Escondido Blvd, Escondido
Tickets: $25 for adults, $20 for Seniors, Music Educators, Military and Alumni, and $10 for Children and Students
