Two of New Haven, Connecticut’s leading music institutions, the New Haven Symphony Orchestra (NHSO) and Neighborhood Music School (NMS), today announced the launch of a collaborative orchestral fellowship program for their community’s most talented high school music students. The program will provide selected members of NMS’s Greater New Haven Youth Orchestra with specialized learning and performance opportunities from the NHSO. Eight students will also receive full scholarships to participate in the NMS Youth Orchestra.

NMS’s Greater New Haven Youth Orchestra is one of the top youth ensembles in Connecticut, focused on preparation of major symphonic works with several performances a year. The orchestra is for highly committed high school players who participate in special events and community performances each semester.

As part of this new collaboration, eight full scholarships to participate in the Youth Orchestra will be awarded to students who play French horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba, double bass, or percussion. Auditions for these prestigious scholarships will take place at NMS on Saturday, January 23, from 3 – 5 p.m. Interested students can call Patty Boczer, Manager, Greater New Haven Youth Orchestra, at 203.624.5189 x11 to schedule an audition time.

These scholarship students will be automatically enrolled into the NHSO Orchestral Fellowship Program. Other members of the Youth Orchestra may apply to the Fellowship Program by submitting an essay outlining their passion for music and explaining why they would be an ideal candidate for the program.

The NHSO Orchestral Fellows will be given free tickets to NHSO concerts, attend open rehearsals, participate in workshops with NHSO New Generation Artists and Music Director William Boughton, and perform at pre-concert Student Showcases. They will be offered positions on the NHSO Junior Board, where they will receive hands on experience behind the scenes at NHSO concerts, assist with instrument discovery zones, and learn about orchestral management.

“It is time for this fine youth orchestra to have a professional mentor orchestra. Our students will all greatly benefit from this
pioneering collaboration which will broaden their experience within New Haven’s rich musical community,” says Youth Orchestra director Thomas Duffy.

“It has always been a dream of mine to connect students who are passionate about classical music with the city’s finest musicians,” says NHSO music director William Boughton. “We are proud to be partnering with the talented faculty and staff of NMS to provide these unique opportunities to our community’s music students and I look forward to seeing this remarkable partnership grow over the coming years.”

About the NHSO
In 2015 – 2016, its 122^nd season, the New Haven Symphony Orchestra continues to fulfill its mission of increasing the impact and value of orchestral music for its audiences through high quality, affordable performances and educational programming. The NHSO presents 55 concerts per season throughout the region and reaches more than 30,000 students through its award-winning educational and community programming. For more information, visit NewHavenSymphony.org.

About NMS
Neighborhood Music School (NMS) is the largest non-profit community arts organization in Connecticut and one of the 10 largest in the country. Founded in 1911 as part of the settlement house movement serving new immigrants to New Haven and now serving more than 3,000 students from 80-plus cities and towns annually, NMS continues its mission to create community, spark potential and share joy through the arts.  NMS students, ranging in age from toddlers to seniors in their 90’s, receive individual and group instruction in music, dance and drama and participate in over 100 weekly ensembles. NMS also houses a certified arts-integrated preschool, several summer programs and provides over $220,000 in financial aid and tuition support for more than 500 students each year.