Interlochen students, alumni to perform in 2023 National Youth Ensembles

30 current and former Arts Camp and Arts Academy students were selected to tour across the United States and Canada as members of the National Youth Orchestra, NYO2, and NYO Jazz.

Tendekai Mawokomatanda (foreground) and Jasper Chambreau (background)

National Youth Orchestra selectees Tendekai Mawokomatanda (foreground) and Jasper Chambreau (background) rehearse for Interlochen Arts Academy’s world premiere performance of MUKTI at David Geffen Hall in New York City.

30 Interlochen Arts Academy and Arts Camp students and alumni are among the young artists selected to perform in the 2023 National Youth Ensembles.

Hosted each summer by Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute, the National Youth Orchestra, NYO2, and NYO Jazz bring together the nation’s most gifted young musicians for free, ensemble-based training programs. Participants engage in a multi-week training residency at Purchase College, State University of New York led by the nation’s leading conductors, musicians, and teachers before embarking on a national or international tour. Musicians are selected to participate in the programs through a comprehensive and highly competitive audition process.

The National Youth Orchestra is composed of the nation’s finest musicians ages 16-19. This summer, the National Youth Orchestra celebrates its tenth anniversary with a North American tour featuring conductor Sir Andrew Davis and guest violinists Gil Shaham and Hillary Hahn. Repertoire for the tour includes Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto, Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique, Barber’s Violin Concerto, Op. 14, and a new work commissioned from Valerie Coleman by Carnegie Hall.

Open to young artists ages 14-17, NYO2 has a particular focus on recruiting musicians from communities underrepresented in classical music. The summer 2023 season featured NYO2’s first-ever international tour: a residency and performances in the Dominican Republic. Conductor Joseph Young led the ensemble in a concert series featuring violinist Jennifer Koh.

Led by acclaimed trumpeter and educator Sean Jones, NYO Jazz unites exceptional jazz artists ages 16-19. Grammy Award-winning vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater will join the ensemble for a performance at Carnegie Hall and two-week European tour.

National Youth Orchestra

  • Benjamin Graham (IAC 22-23), violin
  • Vincent Garcia-Hettinger (IAC 18), cello
  • Kyle Ryu (IO 20), cello
  • Corinne Turgeon (IAA 22-23, IAC St 23), cello
  • Jasper Chambreau (IAC 22, IAA 22-23), bass
  • Tendekai Mawokomatanda (IAC 21, IAA 21-23), bass
  • Eleanor Ohm (IAC 21), bass
  • Bria Rives (IAC 19), bass
  • Diego Fernandez (IAC 22), flute
  • Andrei Bancos (IAA 22-23, IAC 23), clarinet and piano
  • Christopher Dechant (IAC 21), clarinet
  • Adam Kolers (IAC 21-22), clarinet
  • Veronica Pavlovic (IAC 23), clarinet
  • Nolan Smith (IAC 21), bassoon
  • Abigail Konopik (IAC 21-23), horn
  • Louis Roy (IAC 21-22), horn
  • Sam Wood (IAC 21, IAA 22-23), horn
  • Derek Miles Woods (IAC 22), horn
  • Topher Meeks (IAA 21-22), trumpet
  • Devin Drinan (IAC 21), trombone
  • Noah Urquidi (IAC 22), bass trombone
  • Anh Ho (IAC 22), percussion

NYO2

  • Travis Phillips (IAC 19, 21; IO 20), bass
  • Jesse Hu (IAC 22), oboe
  • Caden Helmer (IAC 22), alto and tenor saxophone
  • Emily Lipper (IAC 21-22), trumpet
  • Eileen Li (IAC 22) - percussion

NYO Jazz

  • Cameron Suber (IAA 20-23), tenor saxophone
  • Henry Price (IAC 22), trombone
  • William Schwartzman (IAC 17-18, 21), piano