Concerts & Events
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New Student Auditions
Tuesday, June 16, 2020, 3-7 pm via Zoom
GCTYO will hear auditions for new students virtually in June. Students who accept their placement will join GCTYO for the 2020-2021 season. Register to receive an audition time, which will be sent in early June.
2019-20 Concert Season
Fall Concerts
Klein Auditorium, 910 Fairfield Ave., Bridgeport, CT
Sunday, November 24, 2019
Concert 1: Percussion, String, Wind, Concert, and Symphony Orchestras, 1 pm
Concert 2: Principal & Bravura Orchestras, 5:30 pm
Principal Orchestra concert will feature virtuoso violinist Lara St. John as soloist in the Sibelius Violin Concerto. In addition to the Sibelius, Principal Orchestra will perform Supermaximum by Kenji Bunch and the Mendelssohn Symphony #5 “The Reformation.”
Tickets available at theklein.org.
Chamber Orchestra Concert
Sunday, December 8, 2019, 1 pm
Fairfield Theatre Company StageOne, 70 Sanford St., Fairfield, CT
Enjoy the professional sound of Greater Connecticut Youth Orchestras’ Chamber Orchestra as they entertain with “The Christmas Concerto” by Corelli, Haydn’s Symphony #94 “The Surprise” and more. Chamber Orchestra features a small group of GCTYO’s most accomplished musicians performing challenging baroque and classical music under the baton of Christopher Hisey.
Tickets available at FairfieldTheatre.org.
Jazz Concert
Sunday, December 15, 2019, 3 pm
Greens Farms Academy, 35 Beachside Dr., Westport, CT
Hear both of GCTYO’s Jazz Orchestras and the Rex Cadwallader Big Band of professional jazz musicians in a special concert just before the holidays!
The newly-formed Rex Cadwallader Jazz Orchestra is making its first appearance at the December 2019 GCTYO Jazz Orchestra concert, playing a set of compositions from an upcoming album entitled “A Hundred Wild Horses,” through which they hope to call even greater attention to the plight of the environment.
Tickets available at gctyo.tix.com.
Concerto Competition
Saturday, February 1, 2020, 2 pm
WSHU Studios on the campus of Sacred Heart University
Solo performances by members of Principal Orchestra.
FREE ADMISSION!
GCTYO’s top performers vie for the prize of a solo performance at the Spring Concert at the Klein. Different instruments are featured as each musician plays one movement of a concerto for a panel of judges. The concert will be held at the studios of WSHU Public Radio on the campus of Sacred Heart University. Admission is free! WSHU is the exclusive media partner of GCTYO.
Winter Concerts
Klein Auditorium, 910 Fairfield Ave., Bridgeport, CT
Saturday, February 29, 2020
Concert 1: String, Jazz II, Wind, and Concert Orchestras, 2 pm
Concert 2: Cirque de la Symphonie, 7 pm
Be prepared to soar with GCTYO’s 100-piece Principal Orchestra as they accompany the aerialists, contortionists, and strongmen of Cirque de la Symphonie! You’ll be flying high after these exciting concerts! Two performances to choose from or come to both! Saturday evening performance at 7 pm at The Klein.
Sunday, March 1, 2020
Concert 3: Percussion, Jazz I, Symphony, and Bravura Orchestras, 1 pm
Concert 4: Cirque de la Symphonie, 5 pm
Music and circus come together for this encore performance of Cirque de la Symphonie. Two performances to choose from or come to both! Sunday evening performance at 5 pm at The Klein.
Tickets for all four Winter Concerts available at theklein.org.
Spring Concert
Sunday, May 17, 2020, 2 pm
Klein Auditorium, 910 Fairfield Ave., Bridgeport, CT
GCTYO’s Spring Concert features the winner of the Concerto Competition as soloist accompanied by Principal Orchestra. In addition, each GCTYO ensemble will show its finest colors in the grand finale concert of GCTYO’s regular season.
Tickets available at theklein.org.
Chamber Orchestra Concert
Sunday, May 31, 2020, 6 pm Reception, 7 pm Concert
The Unitarian Church in Westport, 10 Lyons Plains Rd., Westport, CT
Our final concert of the season will feature baroque music by GCTYO’s finest musicians in an intimate and peaceful setting. Join us for a pre-concert reception. Ticket info to come.
2019-20 Season Events
Fall Open Rehearsals
Saturday, October 26, 2019, 9:30-11 am
Tomlinson Middle School, 200 Unquowa Rd., Fairfield, CT
Prospective musicians and their families are invited to view and listen to Saturday morning rehearsals. After touring the school and popping in on ensemble and sectional rehearsals, families will be invited to meet students, parents and Board Members and then participate in a Q&A with Music Director Chris Hisey. Learn the history and philosophy of GCTYO and what makes us a thriving and exciting organization valued by over 300 families. Families who attend Open Rehearsal will receive free tickets to the Fall Concert at The Klein on Nov. 24. Attending a performance will round out the GCTYO experience for prospective members. GCTYO will hear auditions in November for students who wish to start after the Fall Concert. Contact us to reserve a space at Open Rehearsals!
Summer Music Showcase
Saturday, January 4, 2020, 10:30 am-12:15 pm
Tomlinson Middle School, 200 Unquowa Rd., Fairfield, CT
Don’t miss GCTYO’s annual Summer Music Showcase, featuring many local, regional and national summer music programs for young musicians. The programs range from a focus on younger, less experienced musicians looking for a comfortable place to have fun while developing their musical skills, to high school musicians playing at an advanced level. Whether you are looking for a local, part-time summer experience, a sleep away camp, or a conservatory program, you will learn about multiple opportunities at the Summer Music Showcase. Staff from the summer programs will be on hand to talk to you, and there will be plenty of materials to take home and peruse at your leisure. This is a free admission “fair” style event open to the public. Free parking across the street at the train station. Contact us for more information.
Spring Virtual Open House
Saturday, May 2, 2020, 11:30 am via Zoom
Learn all about GCTYO and how to become part of it! All instruments welcome! Topics to be covered include: Auditions, placement, rehearsals, teaching philosophy, curriculum, social & educational benefits of being part of a youth orchestra. Hosts: Music Director Christopher Hisey and Executive Director Beth Ulman. Learn the history and philosophy of GCTYO and what makes us a thriving and exciting organization valued by over 300 families. Meet current students and parents and hear their GCTYO stories. GCTYO will hear auditions in June and August for new students for the 2020-2021 season. Contact us to receive a Zoom link to the Virtual Open House!
New Student Auditions
Tuesday, June 16, 2020