Auditions for 2024-25 will open April 2
For all the details check under the Auditions & Competitions Tab above.
Our Spring Concert 2024 is Sunday, May 5, 3:00 pm, at DeVos Performance Hall Downtown Grand Rapids featuring the first place winners of the Skip Gates Concerto Competition.
The 2024 Skip Gates Concerto Winners
Classical Orchestra:
First Prize: Nicholas Parlmer, Vivaldi Violin Concerto in A minor
Second Prize: Andreas Krapp, Vivaldi Violin Concerto in G minor
Youth Symphony:
First Prize: Maddox Lewis, Bernhard Henrik Crusell Clarinet Concerto No. 1 First Movement
Second Prize: Heming Liang, Mendelssohn Violin Concerto in E minor Third Movement
Third Prize: Kaitlyn Lawrence, Mozart Concerto in G First Movement
Fourth Prize: Caden Dennie, Strauss Horn Concerto in C minor
Fifth Prize: Yewon Choi, Mozart No. 3 in G Major First Movement
GRYS Piano Competition Winner for 2024
Winner: Noah Carr, Mozart Piano Concerto No. 8 in C major K. 246 Movement 1
Runner Up: Mijeong Lee, Shostakovich Piano Concerto No. 2 in F major, Op. 102, III. Allegro
The Piano finalist will perform in the SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 25th concert accompanied by the Youth Symphony.
Noah Carr is a freshman at Grand Valley State University from Muskegon, Michigan. He is pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance and currently studies under Dr. Sookkyung
Cho. He started taking lessons at the age of eleven. In 2023, Noah graduated from Mona Shores High School where he performed piano with the school symphony orchestra, jazz band, and wind ensemble. He played his senior recital for friends, family, and supporters at The Block in downtown Muskegon. Noah discovered his passion for piano at age 16. He has been attending public performances and immersing himself into music ever since. When he is not practicing, Noah enjoys composing music, exercising at the gym, and drawing landscapes.
200 Minute Challenge is over !! —-> Congratulations to this year’s winners!
Patron & Friends Fall Fund Drive 2023
The Fall Fund Drive for 2023 is underway. It is an important time for the future of the Youth Symphony & Classical Orchestra. We are in need of our patrons this fall to help with the financial funding of our season. Please read our Fund Letter to see how we are managing the beginning of our season with our new music director, Duo Shen. Please consider becoming or continuing to be a patron of our organization.
Read Duo Shen’s letter to you >> Donate Now!
Our first Fall Concert was a great success! Thank you to everyone who took part of this inspiring event!
An exciting season 2023-24 with Duo Shen, Conductor
I am excited to have the opportunity to lead the Grand Rapids Youth Symphony and Classical Orchestra to help shape the future of classical music! I look forward to working and living in such a vibrant city while serving its wonderful people and the community.”
Two instrumental ensembles featuring some of West Michigan’s most talented young musicians
[metaslider id=”2979″]Spring Drive for Donations 2023 Donate Now!
Our Spring Drive has started. Attached is a LETTER from Duo Shen. If you can share the excitement of our talented musicians and their experiences with people who will support the Youth Symphony & Classical Orchestra, we deeply appreciate it. We only have 2 fund drives a year: Spring and Fall. We hope to continue to keep our costs reasonable and provide the best quality of musical training for these gifted students.