March 27, 2018 – Oregon Symphony Names MYS 2018 Schnitzer Wonder Award Winner!
President Scott Showalter announced today that the Symphony’s 2018 Schnitzer Wonder Award will go to the Metropolitan Youth Symphony (MYS), represented by Music Director Raúl Gómez and Executive Director Diana Scoggins. Founded on the belief that music education is an integral part of childhood development, MYS provides training and performance opportunities for young musicians of all ages and abilities. MYS is committed to access and inclusion and eliminating all barriers to participation. The award will be presented on April 14 at the Oregon Symphony’s Classically Unexpected concert at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. This is a free concert for the Symphony’s partners and the Portland community.
Read the full press release here>>
March 20, 2018 – MYS Announces 2018 ‘Crescendo Honors’ Awards to Local and National Recipients
Metropolitan Youth Symphony’s upcoming annual gala recognizes the importance of strong, innovative and collaborative leaders who make an impact on the hundreds of students MYS educates through its music programming.
Read the full press release here>>
February 8, 2018 – MYS Music Director Raúl Gómez Nominated
MYS Music Director Raúl Gómez Selected for Bruno Walter National Conductor Preview Metropolitan Youth Symphony is pleased to announce that Music Director Raúl Gómez been named one of six dynamic conductors to participate in the League of American Orchestra’s 2018 Bruno Walter National Conductor Preview. Chosen by a panel of leading music professionals, Gomez competed for the honor with nearly 150 conductors from around the world.
Read the full press release here>>
October 4, 2017 – Music from the Americas | November 12 at 7:30pm
Metropolitan Youth Symphony (MYS) kicks off the season with an opening night concert at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall on Sunday, November 12th at 7:30pm. Our opening concert celebrates the beautifully diverse musical landscape of the Americas, as we echo the Oregon Symphony’s exploration of the topic of immigration within their Sounds of Home series. The program opens with the vibrant Three Latin American Dances by American composer Gabriela Lena Frank. Gabriela draws from her multicultural background to create three musical vignettes derived from pan-Amazonian dance forms. Next, George Gershwin’s jazz-infused An American in Paris evokes the French capital in the 1920s, through the eyes and ears of a foreign visitor. Finally, student mariachi groups Una Voz from Hillsboro and Tradición from Forest Grove join our orchestra for a grand finale featuring favorite mariachi tunes. Also featuring performances by Concert Orchestra and Interlude Orchestra. Tickets here.
Read the full press release here>>
September 12, 2017 – Introducing Metropolitan Youth Symphony’s 44th Season!
As we enter our 44th season, MYS, has reason to celebrate. Our 2017 – 2018 concert season consists of three Downtown Series performances at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, one concert at the Newmark Theatre (in partnership with Friends of Chamber Music), and 12 concerts throughout the community, at schools and local venues. This August marked the one-year anniversary of Music Director, Raúl Gómez joining MYS. With the high quality of his artistic experience and belief in community, we continue to devote our efforts to musical excellence, access, equity, and collaboration.
Read the full press release here>>
June 2, 2017 – MYS on Univision!
Check out our Music Director, Raúl Gómez, in this TV interview about MYS! Special thanks to Univision. See you at our season finale on Sunday evening at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall.
February 21, 2017 – MYS Announces ‘Crescendo Honor’ Awards
Metropolitan Youth Symphony’s upcoming annual gala focuses on the importance of collaborative community leaders who make an impact on the hundreds of students MYS educates through its music programming. To further express its gratitude to the greater musical community, MYS will present three newly established ‘Crescendo Honor’ awards to the following:
- The Musical Hero Award will be presented to MYS Founder, Lajos Balogh
- The Community Partner Award recognizes the Oregon Symphony
- The Music Mentor Award honors MYS Alum, Jonathan DeBruyn
Read the full press release here>>
February 6, 2017 – MYS & Project Prelude Receive National Youth Leadership Council Award
Project Prelude, a new non-profit sponsored by Metropolitan Youth Symphony (MYS), was started last summer to provide free violin lessons to low-income children in the area. Metropolitan Youth Symphony’s Symphony Orchestra violinist Cammie Lee (age 16) and Portland Youth Philharmonic’s flutist Isabelle Zheng (age 17) saw an absence of elementary school music education in the area and decided to tackle the problem themselves. As the fiscal sponsor of Project Prelude, Metropolitan Youth Symphony’s efforts, and the efforts of Ms. Lee and Ms. Zheng, were recently recognized by the National Youth Leadership Council as the recipient of the 2017 NYLC Youth Leadership for Service-Learning Award.
Read the full press release here>>
January 26, 2017 – MYS Kicks off 2017 with an Interplanetary Musical Journey
Metropolitan Youth Symphony (MYS) performs their first concert of 2017 with their Symphony Orchestra concert at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall on Sunday, March 5 at 7:30 pm. Entitled A Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Planets, the concert will feature a performance of The Planets by Gustav Holst and a commissioned work for choir and orchestra by Brazilian composer Ronaldo Cadeu.
Read the full press release here>>
October 29, 2016 – Project Prelude founded to support music education
Listen to the rebroadcast as Christa Wessel interviews MYS Violinist Cammie Lee and PYP flutist Isabelle Zheng who founded Project Prelude in response to the absence of elementary school music education in the Portland area. Supported by MYS as a fiscal sponsor, they’re now passing on their love of classical music by offering free weekly violin lessons to 4th, 5th & 6th graders at Aloha-Huber Park K-8 School.
Listen to the rebroadcast here>>
October 18, 2016 – MYS New Music Director Leads Opening Night Concert
Metropolitan Youth Symphony (MYS) kicks off the season with their opening night concert at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall on Sunday, November 13 at 7:30 pm. The MYS Symphony Orchestra will perform under the baton of new Music Director, Raúl Gómez.
Read the full press release here>>
September 10, 2016 – On Deck with Young Musicians
Listen to the rebroadcast as Christa Wessel interviews 16-year old MYS clarinetist, Joseph Folwick about his experience this summer with YMA, Young Musicians and Artists, where he was the winners of the YMA concerto competition.
Listen to the rebroadcast here>>
August 24, 2016 – MYS Returns from China Tour
MYS Symphony Orchestra embarked on a 10-day concert tour through China, gaining performance experience, cultural understanding, and a lifetime of memories. Our digital flip book is now available to share our experience with the Greater Portland community. Enjoy!
Flip through the digital album>>
July 18, 2016 – PSE to host chamber music camp, culminating in concerts
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ext week, July 18 – 23, Portland Summer Ensembles (PSE) and the Metropolitan Youth Symphony (MYS) will host a week-long chamber music camp for student musicians, culminating in two public concerts performed by student musicians and their faculty, members of the Oregon Symphony and well-known concert pianists.
June 5, 2016 – Join us for our the Season Finale of our 42 year!
On June 5, 2016 at 7:30 pm, the Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Interim Music Director William White, will take the stage at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall for a dramatic program of music from the world of opera and theater. The concert springs to life with the Prelude to Act III of Wagner’s Lohengrin, a tale of romance and chivalry, set to music by the boldest composer of the 19th century. The MYS Symphony Orchestra will then give a rare performance of the complete music from Georges Bizet’s “L’Arlésienne”. This music, originally intended as accompaniment to a play, is teeming with captivating melodies and rich orchestration.
The concert closes with one of the all-time great orchestral showpieces, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov’s Capriccio Espagnol. This work displays the popular Russian composer’s take on the music of Spain, and shows him at the height of his powers writing for the orchestra. Every instrument has its moment to shine, displaying the truly virtuosic scope of these talented young musicians.
A highlight of the evening will be a performance of the first movement of the infamous Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto by Concerto Competition Winner, Cammie Lee. Entry level string orchestra, Overture Strings, conducted by Kathie Reed, will introduce the evening with a short performance.
Contact us or call 503-239-4566 for tickets
April 16, 2016 – MYS Appoints New Music Director – Raúl Gómez-Rojas
This season MYS welcomes a new music Director: YOA Orchestra of the Americas’ Raúl Gómez-Rojas, an inspiring conductor who has worked with various professional and youth orchestras in the U.S. and Latin America. As Music Director, Mr. Gómez will not only conduct the Symphony Orchestra and MYSfits, he will oversee the artistic integrity and expansion of MYS programs, build collaborative partnerships within the local community and beyond, represent MYS to its many constituencies, and most importantly, lead through his passion for youth and music.
December 9, 2015 – Yo-Yo Ma and the MYSfits at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
MYS’s premier string ensemble, the MYSfits, was invited by the Oregon Symphony to provide pre-concert entertainment at the Schnitzer Concert Hall prior to Yo-Yo Ma’s Portland recital. The music enticed Mr. Ma to the lobby where he borrowed a cello and sat in with our musicians. Without realizing it, 15 of our students suddenly became chamber partners with one of the greatest musicians of our time.
Watch Yo-Yo Ma and the MYSfits Pre-recital Entertainment>>
November 28, 2015 – On Deck With Young Musicians – Amaya Smol
![Amaya-Smole-cropped-624x755[1]](https://playmys.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Amaya-Smole-cropped-624x7551.jpg)
Listen to the rebroadcast as Christa Wessel interviews 15 year old violinist, Amaya Smole about her love of music, the runner-up of the Metropolitan Youth Symphony’s concerto competition.
November 12, 2015 – NW Previews with Christa Wessel – MYS Interim Music Director William White
Christa Wessel interviews MYS Interim Director William White on “Northwest Previews” to discuss the intense rehearsal process it takes to bring a challenging program to life and his background as a musician.
November 12, 2015 – KOIN 6 Morning Show with Jenny Hansson – William White and students Cammie Lee and Cameron Joublin
KOIN 6 morning anchor, Jenny Hansson, visits one of the final rehearsals before the Downtown Series Opening Night at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall and speaks with MYS students Cameron Joublin and Cammie Lee about the magic and confidence music gives them. MYS Interim Music Director William White speaks on the importance of music the students’ lives.
June 20, 2015 – On Deck With Young Musicians – Lucas Abrahamsen
“On Deck” Host Christa Wessel met 16-year old Lucas Abrahamsen at a fundraiser for the Metropolitan Youth Symphony. Lucas was selling raffle tickets and marched right up to her and confidently convinced her to buy one. This young percussionist has an enthusiasm for music that makes him stand out.
April 23, 2015 – Oregon Art Beat
“Music transformed the life of Andres Lopera. Born in a small town in Colombia, he joined the town band at age 11. Soon he was touring the country and making connections that eventually led to a Masters Degree in Conducting at the New England Conservatory of Music. Today, as musical director and conductor at the Metropolitan Youth Symphony, he is bringing the gift of music to hundreds of young people.”
Read more from Andres Lopera, Conductor and Musical Director>>
December 27, 2014 – On Deck with Young Musicians – Barry Fowler
“17-year old Barry Fowler loves classical music. He plays viola with the Metropolitan Youth Symphony, though he originally started his musical journey with the violin. In this episode of On Deck we’ll chat about Barry’s passion for the viola and learn about a time in his life when he fell out of love with classical music.”
December 27, 2014 – On Deck with Young Musicians – Mat McLaughlin
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18-year old bassoonist Mat McLaughlin is in his first year at Clark College, trying to figure out what to do with his love of classical music. He understands that becoming a performance major is risky career-wise, but he loves the bassoon too much to give it up.”
December 8, 2014 – The Oregonian
“The Metropolitan Youth Symphony is on a tear. Now in its 41st season, the organization is increasing its artistic reach with a new Baroque orchestra under the direction of Portland Baroque’s Adam LaMotte, and it’s expanding its jazz programs…”
Read the full review: Metropolitan Youth Symphony flourishes under intense, energetic conductor Andres Lopera >>
September 20, 2014 – On Deck with Young Musicians – Daniel Scoggins
“The big two passions in Daniel’s life have been music and soccer. Daniel was the principal cellist with the Metropolitan Youth Symphony last year, and has recently made the decision to give up soccer in order to spend his senior year focusing on his cello.”
September 19, 2014 – Northwest Reverb
Andrés Lopera talks about his work with the Metropolitan Youth Symphony and its upcoming season
“Andrés Lopera is starting his third season as the music director of the Metropolitan Youth Symphony. A native of Colombia, Lopera holds a Master’s degree in orchestral conducting from the New England Conservatory of Music, a Master’s degree in trombone performance from the University of Texas at Austin, and a double degree in conducting and trombone from the Universidad EAFIT in Medellin, Colombia.
This past summer he was the assistant conductor of the National Repertory Orchestra in Breckenridge, Colorado where he worked with Carl Topilow and Jeffrey Kahane. I talked with him a few weeks ago. Here is part of our conversation…”
June 28, 2014 – On Deck with Young Musicians – Maeve Nagel-Frazel
“14-year-old violinist Maeve Nagel-Frazel just completed her final year at Sunnyside Environmental School – a “K-through-8″ school which requires all graduating 8th graders to write and deliver a speech which explores a topic they care deeply about. Maeve chose to speak about her love of classical music.”
February 20th, 2014 – The Oregonian
Andres Lopera brings high energy, big ideas to Metropolitan Youth Symphony
“Andrés Lopera is leaping. His orchestra is swaying. Drums are pounding. The Metropolitan Youth Symphony is rocking the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. Who says symphonies can’t have fun? Not Lopera…”
February 13th, 2014 – Univision KUNP
Watch MYS’ first Spanish-language commercial, as broadcast on Univision!