Looking at the musicians of the World Youth Alliance Chamber Orchestra, one might easily be amazed at the talent, passion, and youth of its members. The string ensemble, founded in the summer of 2010 by Alexis Kende, World Youth Alliance Director of Cultural Programs, features violinists, violists, cellists, and bassists between the ages of 10 and 17 years. These young musicians come from New York City’s most prestigious musical programs and have performed at renowned venues all over the world. The mission of the orchestra is to inspire international unity and reflect the World Youth Alliance’s commitment to the dignity of the human being as the basis for human rights.
The culmination of weeks of practice and dedication from these young musicians came on September 19th, 2010 during the public debut performance of the WYA Chamber Orchestra at the Church of Saint Vincent Ferrer in New York City. The orchestra performed Bach’s Double Concerto in D Minor for two violins, Vivaldi’s Double Concerto in G Minor for two cellos, an adagio by Jay Greenberg, and Tchaikovsky’s “Serenade for Strings.” Each piece was performed beautifully, with great evenness and grace. One of the aspects of the performance that was most impressive was the orchestra’s ability to unite as one without the direction of a conductor. It was amazing to see the musicians’ ability to look to the other as a lead, especially for cueing. The ability of the musicians to change dynamics with fluidity was also captivating and added to the overall drama of the pieces. The variation in the volume of sound was especially apparent during the performance of Tchaikovsky’s “Serenade for Strings.” However, what made the orchestra’s performance especially engaging were the soloists, all of whom played with an intense emotion that reverberated with the audience. It was captivating not only to listen to each soloist play with clarity and precision, but also to watch the way they moved with the music.
Overall, the selections chosen for the orchestra’s public debut performance excellently executed. A personal favorite was Tchaikovsky’s “Serenade for Strings,” which featured the entire ensemble. Also beautifully performed was the adagio by Jay Greenberg. Although distinctly different from the selections by Bach, Vivaldi, and Tchaikovsky, Greenberg’s piece was unique in its melody. It was inspiring to hear a dynamic piece written by a young composer.
The WYA Chamber Orchestra’s public debut concert showcased the talent of young musician and composer alike. The orchestra’s performance successfully captured the emotion of each piece and displayed the affinity for music shared by each musician. Although unfamiliar with classical music, I found the performance to be captivating and inspiring and something I hope to experience again in the future.
