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American Youth Symphony
The American Youth Symphony (AYS) is a 108 member orchestra based in Los Angeles, California, whose mission is to:

"Inspire the future of a timeless art form by sharing exceptional, innovative concerts based on our landmark training of musicians ages 15-27. Led by Alexander Treger, Music Director, Henri Lazarof Chair, the orchestra provides paid fellowships to 100 musicians who represent extraordinary talent from all over the world. We present free concerts, creating an opportunity for everyone to experience the joy, beauty and exuberance of remarkable orchestral performances."

Jim Svejda, music commentator for KUSC, has described AYS as "the finest youth symphony on Earth."

History
AYS was founded in 1964 by conductor Mehli Mehta (father of Zubin Mehta and Zarin Mehta), then Director of the Orchestra Department at UCLA. Mehta led AYS for 33 seasons, retiring at age 90. Of his reasons for founding AYS, Mehta said:

''"It takes a lifetime to learn symphonic literature... When they leave the American Youth Symphony they will have performed all the symphonies of Beethoven, Brahms, Tchaikovsky and Dvořák, plus the last six symphonies of Mozart, five of Mahler, two of Bruckner and all the Strauss tone poems. To be a musician, you must know these things.'"'

Current Music Director, Alexander Treger (former Concertmaster of the Los Angeles Philharmonic), was appointed Mehta's successor in 1998. He currently holds the title "Music Director, Henri Lazarof Chair".

Training
During the 2013/14 season, AYS was comprised of 108 musicians from 26 schools. Training with AYS is tuition-free, and acceptance is competitive. Each season, 250-300 applicants audition to fill an average of 30 open positions.

Composer and violinist David Newman (an alumnus of AYS), said of the training:

"It’s a place where talented kids... come together every weekend and rehearse, with the idea of performing the standard classical music repertoire. So it’s a training orchestra, but it’s almost the same as a professional orchestra, the quality is so good... Anyone can play in our group. You have to audition to get in but if you’re good, anyone can play."

AYS Alumni, "populate major American orchestras of all stripes and make up significant percentages of most of the major performing ensemble here in Los Angeles." Currently, thirteen AYS alumni perform with the LA Opera, seven with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, and fourteen with the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

Notable Alumni include:


 * Nigel Armstrong, violinist
 * Danielle Belen, violinist
 * Raynor Carroll, Principal Percussion at LA Phil
 * Shoshana Claman, violinist
 * Franklyn d’Antonio, Concertmaster of the Berkeley Symphony
 * Ken Hamao, violinist
 * Mayumi Kanagawa, violinist
 * Michelle Kim, Assistant Concertmaster of the NY Phil
 * René Mandel, Executive Director of the Berkeley Symphony
 * Peter Mandell, bassoonist
 * David Newman, composer and violinist
 * Krystyna Newman, violinist
 * Elizabeth Pitcairn, violinist
 * Michael Sachs, Principal Trumpet of the Cleveland Orchestra
 * Sheryl Staples, Associate Concertmaster of the NY Phil
 * David Stenske, Associate Concertmaster of the LA Opera

Programs
AYS performs 5-7 concerts each season, and the majority of concerts are presented free to the public at UCLA's Royce Hall. Performances have been descried by the LA Times as possessing "polish and depth". The repertoire includes classical masterworks, along with contemporary compositions, and film music.

Past guest artists have included Sarah Chang, Daníel Bjarnason, Anna Clyne, Johannes Moser, Lera Auerbach, Valentina Lisitsa, David Newman, Alan Silvestri, Charles Fox, Danny Elfman and John Williams.

The Hollywood Projects
In May 2012, AYS launched a multi-year "Elfman Project" featuring the scores of composer Danny Elfman, and conducted by Oscar nominated film composer David Newman.

This project follows a similar three-year exploration of the work of film composer Jerry Goldsmith, and serves the dual purpose of training young musicians in the art of playing for film, and restoring and preserving film scores.

The Elfman Project has received attention and praise from the film music community, with Justin Craig of FIlm Score Monthly writing:

"The American Youth Symphony stands high, mastering the challenge of performing film music with all its unconventional meters and rhythms. Don’t be deceived by the label of “youth” orchestra; the AYS is the real deal."

This project has been supported by the Los Angeles County Arts Commission, the James Irvine Foundation, and BMI.