Old York Road Symphony facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Old York Road Symphony
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| Origin | Abington, Pennsylvania, USA |
| Genres | Classical |
| Occupation(s) | Symphony orchestra |
| Years active | 1932–present |
| Members | Music Director Jack Moore |
The Old York Road Symphony is an American orchestra. It is located in Abington, Pennsylvania. This orchestra is special because it's one of the oldest groups in the country where all the musicians are volunteers!
The orchestra started in 1932. It was founded by Stanley Chute, Suzanne C. Meder, and Louis Angeloty. Louis Angeloty was a lead violinist for the famous Philadelphia Orchestra.
In 1933, 20 musicians from the group played their first concert. It was held at the Keswick Theatre in Glenside. In 1934, the Symphony became an official non-profit group. It has been playing music ever since!
The orchestra's main goal is to help talented musicians. It also wants to make the cultural life of suburban Philadelphia richer.
Meet the Orchestra and Its Music
Jack Moore is the current music director. He started leading the orchestra in 2016. About 60 to 65 volunteer musicians play in the orchestra.
They practice every week to prepare for their concerts. Each year, they perform four or five concerts. These shows include classical symphonies and concerts with solo musicians. They also play fun "pops" concerts and special family shows.
The orchestra often performs at Abington Junior High School. They have also played at Penn State Abington and other places.
Maestro Moore is a very busy conductor. He has been the Music Director for the Ambler Symphony Orchestra since 1995. He also leads the Orchestra Society of Philadelphia and the Olney Symphony Orchestra. He often performs as a guest conductor with orchestras in the USA and other countries. These include Russia, the Czech Republic, and Bulgaria. Mr. Moore also works at WRTI-FM in Philadelphia. He is a program director and a classical music host.
Maestro Moore is the ninth Music Director for the Old York Road Symphony. Louis Angeloty, one of the founders, was the first conductor. He led the orchestra until 1956. Other conductors have included Wolfgang Richter, Joseph Primavera, Mark Laycock, and Arne Running. Dr. Douglas Meyer and Gabriel Gordon also led the group. Yoon Jae Lee was the music director from 2008 to 2016.
Helping Young Musicians and the Community
The Old York Road Symphony cares a lot about young people. They have programs to encourage music studies in local schools. These programs have two main goals.
First, they want to help young musicians keep practicing their instruments. They also want to celebrate and reward their hard work. Second, they want to help new audiences discover the joy of music. This can make their lives richer for many years.
One of the most important programs is the annual "Young Artists Competition." Young musicians compete, and the winners get to perform with the symphony! This event has been happening for over 13 years. It helps show off the amazing talent of young music students.
This competition helps students perform in front of an audience. It also helps introduce other teens to classical music. The competition is held every spring for young musicians in the Delaware Valley.
The orchestra works with music teachers in schools. These teachers recommend talented students for the competition. A group of three musician judges chooses the winners. Winners receive a small cash prize. They also get to perform as soloists in a special concert.
The orchestra also gives teaching materials to music teachers. These materials help expose more students to classical music. This helps create more interest in music among young people.
