YOSA Tour Blog
Keep up with your YOSA musician as we share daily updates on their adventures in New York, Boston, and Philadelphia!
YOSA Tour Rehearsal: June 12- June 15, 2022
In the week leading up to the YOSA tour departure, the young musicians gathered at Alamo Heights High School to rehearse as a group, alongside the guest piano soloist, Adam Tendler. In these day-long rehearsal sessions, YOSA musicians were able to catch up with their orchestra friends and learn more about the guest artist.
About the guest piano soloist, Adam Tendler…
A recipient of the Lincoln Center Award for Emerging Artists, “currently the hottest pianist on the American contemporary classical scene” (Minneapolis Star Tribune) “joyfully rocking out at his keyboard” (New York Times), Adam Tendler is an internationally recognized interpreter of living, modern, and classical composers. A pioneer of DIY culture in concert music who has commissioned and premiered major works by Christian Wolff and Devonté Hynes alike, at age 23 Tendler performed solo recitals in all fifty United States as part of a grassroots tour he called America 88x50, which became the subject of his memoir, 88x50, a Kirkus Indie Book of the Month and Lambda Literary Award nominee. He has gone on to become one of classical and contemporary music’s most recognized and celebrated artists, active as a soloist, recording artist, composer, speaker, and educator. Tendler recently released an album of Liszt’s Harmonies Poétiques et Religieuses on the Steinway Label, Robert Palmer: Piano Music on New World Records, and published his second book, tidepools. In 2022 he premiered 16 newly commissioned works by composers including Laurie Anderson, Nico Muhly, Missy Mazzoli, Christopher Cerrone, Timo Andres, and Pamela Z, as part of a project called Inheritances. Adam Tendler is a Yamaha Artist.
YOSA Bon Voyage Concert: Thursday, June 16, 2022
We hosted the YOSA New York Tour: Bon Voyage concert at Alamo Heights High School. Here, friends and family, and YOSA supporters had the opportunity to see the program that the YOSA musicians will play in New York, Philadelphia, and Boston. Music director, Troy Peters curated beautiful tunes and melodies that had audience members dancing in their seats! View the photo recap of the event, below.
YOSA in Boston: June 17-June 20, 2022
Following the Bon Voyage concert on June 16, YOSA musicians gathered at the airport to begin their journey to the east coast. Many of the musicians chatted with their friends or played games to pass time as they awaited their flight. Once they arrived in Boston, the musicians and chaperones rested up for their adventures in the Massachusetts.
On their first full day in Boston, feeling rested and rejuvenated, the YOSA musicians gathered at the Boston Symphony Hall for a Q&A with Boston Symphony English Horn player, Rob Sheena. The young musicians had plenty of questions and curiosity about the performance hall, city of Boston, and overall symphony program. Following this informative session, the tour group had lunch at the Quincy Market and ended the day with a tour of Salem, Massachusetts.
Following their adventurous endeavors around the Boston area, the YOSA tour group began their Sunday morning at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. There they explored with their friends and gathered inspiration for their performance that night. They then participated in a dress rehearsal for their concert with guest artist, Adam Tendler, and performed at 5:00 p.m. at Mechanics Hall in Worcester, Massachusetts.
YOSA in Philadelphia: June 20-June 23, 2022
As the YOSA tour group departs Boston and makes way for Philadelphia, they stopped to get one final group picture at the Massachusetts State House.
Upon their arrival in Philadelphia, the musicians were eager to explore and learn more about the historic city. Once settled and unpacked, YOSA musicians took a tour of Downtown Philly. On this walking tour the group stopped by the US Court House, the Curtis Institute of Music, and Elfreth’s Alley— the oldest residential street in the United States. The group ended their day with dinner and enjoyed catching up with the other groups before their big concert at Temple Performance Hall on Wednesday, June 22, 2022.
After their long day of travel and adventure, the tour group Spent the following morning at Independence Hall, learning more about US history and the historic city of Philly. Following their tour of Independence Hall, the group had the option of venturing off to see the Liberty bell, home of Betsy Ross, or Trinity Memorial Church. The group enjoyed their lunch and rested before their concert at Temple Performing Arts Center at 7:00 p.m.
YOSA in New York City: June 23-June 27, 2022
The morning following their major performance at the Temple Performing Arts Center, the YOSA tour group was eager to see more of Philadelphia. They started their morning with a visit to the Philadelphia Museum of Art before they departed for New York. Once they arrived in the Big Apple, the young musicians got settled and had a lively dinner consisting of lots of pasta, music, and dancing!
On Friday, June 24 the group got an early start to visit the Hudson Yards, the Grand Central Terminal and Rockefeller Plaza. Following this major venture, they relaxed and hopped on a river cruise to enjoy the scenic views and a photo op with the Statue of Liberty, all before they saw the musical ‘Hadestown’ at the Walter Kerr Theatre.
The next morning, YOSA musicians visited the Natural Museum of History followed by a visit to the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, Time Square, and Top of the Rock. The tour group then had a Q&A Session with the New York Philharmonic associate conductor, Michael Adelson to learn more about their program, concerts, and musicians.
Before their big performance, the YOSA musicians took a stroll through Central Park. They then began their dress rehearsal with guest artist, Adam Tendler and had their most anticipated performance of the tour, their concert at Carnegie Hall! They ended the night with a dinner cruise on the Hudson River.
