Bloom was an emotional journey that challenged the heart and inspired the mind.

Original works by Mason Bates, Jóhann Jóhannson, Jennifer Jolley, and others took our audience on an emotional journey that challenged the heart and inspired the mind. From pointillistic to lyrical styles, the program perfectly captured the CYO mission to perform works by living composers, and we were honored to welcome composer Gala Flagello, who joined us for our performance of her piece Vitality.

Few things unite humanity quite like our fascination with space.

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We were thrilled to kick off our 29th season on December 2nd, 2023 with Intergalactic, our celebration of the universe. This concert featured music from the feature films The Martian, Alien, Stargate, and Independence Day, accompanied by visual effects that fostered an incredible immersive musical journey for our audience. It was a unique and memorable experience!

CYO brought original film scores live to picture.

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On November 5, 2023 the talented musicians of CYO brought to life two short films created through Tri-C Film Academy’s Film Crew Intensive Training, playing original scores live to picture.

The event also featured panel discussions with composer Scott Hallgren and Directors Rick Page and Kara White to discuss the process of creating the scores and working with the Contemporary Youth Orchestra. It was a must for film and music lovers alike!

CYO performed at the closing of the Chagrin Documentary Film Festival (CDFF)

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Contemporary Youth Orchestra performed at CDFF’s in-person festival closing event featuring the documentary “The Orchestra Chuck Built.”

The Tri-C Creative Arts Department along with CYO and The Creative Arts Academy presented this amazing theatrical concert.

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The first collaboration between the Tri-C Creative Arts theatre team, the Contemporary Youth Orchestra and the Tri-C Creative Arts Academy, We Will Rock You is a quirky, eccentric and heartfelt story of outsiders. It is also a creative cautionary tale for the cyber age.

With the Oscar-winning film Bohemian Rhapsody, the music of Queen is more popular than ever. We Will Rock You follows two revolutionaries, Galileo and Scaramouche, on a quest to save rock n’ roll in a post-apocalyptic world in which there are no musical instruments and rock n’ roll has died.

Galileo and Scaramouche join a small group of societal outcasts, the Bohemians, as they fight to take back the iPlanet from the all-powerful Globalsoft, led by the Killer Queen. They fight for freedom, individuality and the rebirth of rock n’ roll.

CYO’s talented students performed like never before in our Chamber Showcase Concert!

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Featuring two chamber orchestras, a woodwind quintet, a brass ensemble, a percussion ensemble, a string quartet and a string quintet, this concert had something for everyone! In addition to works by the new generation of great composers such as Dylan Tran, Max Mueller, Clayton Stroup and Kyle H. Peters, CYO was proud to present works written and arranged by two of our talented students, Eli Leder and Avery Stager.

CYO presented our Spring 2023 concert featuring the music of Soon Hee Newbold and our concerto competition winners.

California resident Soon Hee Newbold, born in 1974, is a violinist, pianist, and actress as well as a conductor and composer. Soon Hee’s music has been heard across the globe in many of the best known concert halls such as Carnegie Hall in New York City. Soon Hee’s music evokes vivid storylines and imagery through her use of singing melodies and intricate rhythms. Her music has the ability to transport the listener into the lush musical landscapes that she has created.

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Also featured in this concert were the winners of Contemporary Youth Orchestra’s concerto competition: CYO violinist and Avon High School Junior, Sophie Ng and Hudson High School Senior and Violist, Roy Morcos.

Sophie presented the beloved Vaughan Williams work “The Lark Ascending.” This piece is renowned for its simple elegance and beauty, but is equally known for its demands on the performer. The performer must convey the simplicity of the musical line while physically being tested in every aspect of their musicianship.

Roy presented William Walton’s Viola Concerto. Walton’s Viola Concerto is one of the three major concerti in viola repertoire and holds that spot in large part because of the absolute mastery of the viola that is needed to play it. This concerto oscillates between ethereal, lyrical melodies and bold, rhythmic interjections and takes the audience, and the performer with it on its wild ride.

Contemporary Youth Orchestra’s December 17, 2022 concert featured two compelling pieces, 90 young musicians and 8 professional soloists.

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CYO performed Vincent Mendoza’s “Concerto for Orchestra” and Pascal Le Boeuf’s “Triple Concerto.” This concert marked the first time that Mendoza’s piece was played in the United States. “Concerto for Orchestra” reflects themes of social justice and integrates elements of jazz and spoken word. Joining CYO on stage were soloists Chris Coles, Joe Tomino, Etienne Massicotte, Josiah Quarles and Dan Bruce.

CYO co-commissioned Le Boeuf’s “Triple Concerto” for violin, percussion duo and orchestra, which premiered on this program. Joining CYO on stage were violinist Barbora Kolářová and percussionists Garrett Arney and Ben Kipp.

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