CYMO at National Youth Orchestra Festival 2002, Sarasota, FL

Michelle Wu was interviewed by UPI today. You can see her quoted on the UPI web site.

Today was a busy day! All of the students had a 2 1/2 hour rehearsal with their respective festival orchestras and a 1/12 hour sectional rehearsal with their section coaches. One of the coaches commented on how well prepared the CYMO musicians were. There was also one hour of yoga teaching relaxation and exercises. It was a big success. As a matter of fact, it was so popular that they're getting a bigger room for tomorrow. Some of the students had chamber music rehearsals where they are playing music written by the young ASCAP competition winners.
CYMO's saxophonist, Holly, received a very big complement on her playing. The CYMO musicians have a large number of top places in the orchestras. CYMO's concert master is concert master of one of the festival orchestras. Two cellists are principals, two violins are principal seconds, two trombones are principals, one French horn is prinicpal, one bass player is principal, one clarinet is principal, one bassoon is principal, and one harp plays in two orchestras. The rehearsals and sectionals are held in three different locations each about a block apart. The chaperones are absolutely the best. The keep very busy helping the students get from one location to another and taking care of a myriad of details.
There was a concert tonight given by the teachers. It was truly superb. These coaches are among the finest in their respective fields. After the concert, there was a meeting with all of the participants to go over the procedure for Thursday's relaxation activities, visiting the Ringling Circus Museum and going to Lido Beach.
The weather is hot and humid and cloudy. But all the classes are inside where the air conditioning makes it very comfortable. The food is tasty with ample buffet meals and waiters there to clear tables and help with anything else. Tomorrow CYMO will have time to prepare for their big concert tomorrow night.