El CaminoYouth Symphony

2016 –2017

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Cassandra May, violinErik Roise, celloSarah Cliff, bassoon

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rMaestro Jindong Cai received his early musical training in China, where he learned to play the violin and piano. He came to the United States in 1985 --and earned his graduate degrees at theNew England Conservatory and the College-Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati. In 1989, he was selected to study with famed conductor LeonardBernstein at the Tanglewood Music Center, and won the Conducting Fellowship Award at the Aspen MusicFestival in 1990 and 1992.

Jindong Cai joinedthe Stanford Universityfaculty in 2004 as thefirst holder of theGretchen B. Kimball Director of OrchestralStudies’ Chair andAssociate Professor of

Music in Performance. Currently he is the

Artistic Director of the Stanford Pan-Asian Music Festival, which he founded in 2005. He has held positions as assistant conductor with the Cincinnati Symphony

and the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra. He has conducted in China including theChina National Broadcasting Symphony,the National Opera and Ballet Theater of China, and the Shanghai Symphony. Dr. Cai is an accomplished author andscholar and his latest book, Beethovenin China, co-authored with Sheila Melvin,is now in release from Penguin Books.

Young people are full of curiosity and if they enjoy the learning process,

they will be happy, work harder, and perform better. It is also

important to challenge youngpeople and to raise the barof their own expectations —always making sure that wehelp them to meet these.

Their experience working inthe ECYS should help them to

grow as individuals, become disciplined and responsible,

gain confidence, and build a life-long relationship with

classical music. DR. JINDONG CAI

Maestro Cai and the Senior Symphony will open and close the season with romantic Russian

masterworks; celebrate the holidays with popular Broadway musicals; express love for humanity and theearth with a 2011 piece by composerTan Dun; collaborate with chorus for a joyful exploration of the greatestcomposer of all, Ludwig vanBeethoven; feature extraordinarilygifted young artists and renownedprofessional soloists; and cap theseason with Bon Voyage performances prior to a glorious tour of Central Europe!

We begin on October 29 with an all-Russian SeasonOpener, featuring Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s recurringtheme of fate and providence, Symphony No. 5. ECYSproudly presents San Francisco Symphony violinistDavid Chernyavsky, a native of St. Petersburg, Russia,performing the brilliant Alexander Glazunov Concerto.

Celebrate the season with ECYS as Broadway favorites light up the stage at the December 11 HolidayPops Concert. Oh! What a Beautiful Program of hits fromRodgers and Hammerstein, Andrew Lloyd Webber andmore! Of course we will send you off with a Sleigh Ride!

The Lunar New Year Celebration on February 4 will bring together a colorful and diverse array of artistsand compositions for our annual East meets West performance. Enjoy the vivid colors and elegance of the OngDance Company, who will open the concertwith a Korean Drum Dance. We are honored to show-

case David Kim, Concertmaster of the Philadelphia Orchestra, for Felix Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E minor. A composition by Chinese composer Tan Dunwill again grace our stage, along with a performance

by John Eells and the Sinfonietta Orchestra!

A huge Ode to Joy! The AnnualBenefit Concert features the 115member Senior Symphony and specialguests the Symphony Silicon Valley Chorale! ECYS Music Director

Jindong Cai, who is an accomplished Beethovenscholar, will share his passion and knowledge with ourSymphony musicians and audience for a monumentalApril 1 production of Symphony No. 9!

The Season Finale returns to the Russian theme on June 4, with Symphonic Dances, the last music Sergei Rachmaninoff composed. Violinists will be interested to learn that Fritz Kreisler, at Rachmaninoff’srequest, checked the bowings! Join us as we honor our seniors at this final regular season performance.

Bon Voyage concerts on June 18 and 19 will feature the ultimate triumvirate of Russian riches withthe return of the Rachmaninoff Symphonic Dances,adding the Shostakovich Festive Overture and theTchaikovsky Violin Concerto, performed by none otherthan David Chernyavsky, who will join us in Central Europe for Tour 2017!

All of this, plus captivating performances by concerto competition winners! See you at the concerts!

2 Cover: Arthur Oung, cello, Grace Huh, violin & Erica Nagase, flute 3

Welcome to the 54th Season of

ElCaminoYouthSymphony!

Season at a Glance

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Arthur Oung Symphony Holiday Concert

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October29 Senior Symphony Season Opener Concert, FLINT CENTER AT DE ANZA COLLEGE

November19 Sinfonietta Orchestra Fall Classic Concert

VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS CENTER AT DE ANZA COLLEGE

December4 Fall Concert: Chamber Players & Camerata Orchestras, Galbraith Honor Strings,

El Camino Wind Orchestra, HERITAGE THEATRE

11 Senior Symphony Holiday Pops Concert, CALIFORNIA THEATRE

February3 Violin Masterclass with David Kim, Concertmaster of the Philadelphia Orchestra

COMMUNITY SCHOOL OF MUSIC AND ARTS

4 Lunar New Year Concert, Sinfonietta & Symphony, FLINT CENTER AT DE ANZA COLLEGE

25 Divisa Ensemble and ECYS Chamber GroupsCOMMUNITY SCHOOL OF MUSIC AND ARTS

March4 Winter Concert: Chamber Players & Camerata Orchestras,

Galbraith Honor Strings, El Camino Wind OrchestraALBERT AND JANET SCHULTZ CULTURAL ARTS HALL

11 Sinfonietta March Festival Concert, HERITAGE THEATRE

April1 Senior Symphony Annual Benefit Concert, FLINT CENTER AT DE ANZA COLLEGE

May6 Ice Cream Social Concert with Chamber Players and Camerata Orchestras,

Galbraith Honor Strings, El Camino Wind OrchestraALBERT AND JANET SCHULTZ CULTURAL ARTS HALL

20 Sinfonietta Spring Dance ConcertVISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS CENTER AT DE ANZA COLLEGE

June4 Senior Symphony Season Finale Concert, FLINT CENTER AT DE ANZA COLLEGE

18 Senior Symphony Bon Voyage Concert, ARAGON HIGH SCHOOL THEATER

19 Senior Symphony Bon Voyage Concert

WOODSIDE HIGH SCHOOL PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

July28 Summer Music Conservatory Concert, FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF PALO ALTO

Roger SunSymphony Season Finale

Annual Benefit Concert

Ludwig van Beethoven, completely deaf at the time of the Ninth’s premiere, never heard a note of his magnificent composition outside of his own imagination.

With his baton, Maestro Cai, a Beethovenscholar, will explore this epic story of overcominggreat obstacles and emerging with a victory for all humanity.

ECYS, joined by special guests the Symphony Silicon Valley Chorale, Elena Sharkova, Artistic Director, presents one of the most beloved and influential works of all time: Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9;a triumphant celebration, uniting orchestra, vocal soloists, and chorus in a joyousand unforgettable finale!

SATURDAY, April 1, 2017, 7:30 pmFlint Center at De Anza College21250 Stevens Creek Blvd, Cupertino

Tickets: $38/28 available at Ticketmaster.com (Service fees may apply)

BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 9, “Ode to Joy” with the Symphony Silicon Valley ChoraleBEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 4, Mvt. I

Featuring young artist Nancy Zheng, piano6

Symphony Silicon Valley Chorale

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“Ode to Joy”with Symphony Silicon Valley Chorale!

“It seems like my entire

heart, my entire

being, has

dissolved into

this magnificent,

glorious symphony...

Beethoven is

unmatchable...

This is real music —

its power makes me

forget everything.“

As written by a young

Jindong Cai in 1979,

after seeing Seiji Ozawa

conduct the Ninth Symphony.

Nancy Zheng

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Erica NagaseSymphony Holiday Concert

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SEASON OPENER CONCERTSATURDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2016, 7:30 pmFlint Center at De Anza College, 21250 Stevens Creek Blvd, Cupertino

Featuring guest artist David Chernyavsky, violinBORODIN Prince Igor: Polovetsian Dance No.17GLAZUNOV Violin Concerto in A minor, David Chernyavsky, soloistTCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No. 5

HOLIDAY POPS CONCERTSUNDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2016, 2:30 pmCalifornia Theatre, 345 South First Street, San Jose

Featuring young artists Erica Nagase, flute & Arthur Oung, cello.Please visit www.ecys.org for the complete program.

LUNAR NEW YEAR CELEBRATION CONCERTSATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2017, 7:30 pmFlint Center at De Anza CollegeFor complete details, turn to pages 10 – 11!

ANNUAL BENEFIT CONCERTSATURDAY, APRIL 1, 2017, 7:30 pmFlint Center at De Anza College

Joined by special guests the Symphony Silicon Valley Chorale!For complete details, see pages 6 – 7!

SEASON FINALE CONCERTSUNDAY, JUNE 4, 2017, 7:30 pmFlint Center at De Anza College

Featuring young artists Leyla Kabuli, piano & Roger Sun, violin DVORAK Slavonic Dance No. 8SIBELIUS Violin Concerto, Mvt. I, Roger Sun, soloistRACHMANINOFF Piano Concerto No. 2, Mvt. I, Leyla Kabuli, soloistRACHMANINOFF Symphonic Dances

BON VOYAGE CONCERTSTwo Performances! For program details see pages 12 –13!SUNDAY, JUNE 18, 2017, 7:30 pmAragon High School Theater, 900 Alameda de las Pulgas, San Mateo

MONDAY, JUNE 19, 2017, 7:30 pmWoodside High School Performing Arts Center, 199 Churchill Ave, Woodside

Tickets to all performances are available at the door. All Flint Center tickets are available in advance at Ticketmaster.com (Service fees may apply).All tickets are $15/8 with the exception of the Lunar New Year Concert ($25/15) and Annual Benefit Concerts ($38/28). Check www.ecys.org for special free ticket offers.

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Catherine Huang

Korean Drum Dancer, OngDance Company10

Lunar New YearCelebration

Concert!

Celebrate the Lunar New Year with the Senior Symphony, Dr. Jindong Cai, Conductor, and special guest Concertmaster of the Philadelphia Orchestra,David Kim, for the much-loved Mendelssohn Violin Concerto in E Minor.

The concert will open with an inspiring and beautiful performance bythe OngDance Company, a Korean Dance and Drum ensemble directed and choreographed by Kyoungil Ong.

Symphonic Poem of Three Notes, from the renowned living composer Tan Dun, takes the audience on a journey from naturethrough industry and back to nature again,featuring unique sound sources such as wind,stones, and car brake drums!

The spectacular East meets West program also features the Sinfonietta Orchestra, John Eells Conductor, and young artist Catherine Huang, piano.

Mr. Kim will conduct a violin masterclass onFriday, February 3, 2017, 7:00 pm. More details at ecys.org!

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2017, 7:30 pmFlint Center at De Anza College21250 Stevens Creek Blvd, Cupertino

Tickets: $25/15 available at Ticketmaster.com (Service fees may apply)

BAO YUANKAI Revels of the Lantern Festival

BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 4, Mvt. I, Catherine Huang, soloist

TIESHAN & YUAN Dance of the Yao People

MENDELSSOHN Violin Concerto in E Minor, David Kim, soloistTAN DUN Symphonic Poem of Three Notes

Our gratitude to Suhyun and Wonha Chon,Sponsors of the OngDance Company performance.

David Kim

Wiener Musikverein, Vienna, Austria

Central Europe Tour 2017 During the summer of 2017 ECYS will journey

to the grandest stages of Central Europe! The program will be presented first in Prague’s

exquisite Smetana Hall; followed by a golden visit to the Musikvereinsaal, the “Great Hall”

and home of the Vienna Philharmonic; next onto Bratislava’s Slovak Radio Hall, and

concluding with a grand finale at Budapest’s Bela Bartok National Concert Hall!

You will want to wish us a “Bon Voyage”on June 18 & 19!

SHOSTAKOVICH Festive OvertureTCHAIKOVSKY Violin Concerto, David Chernyavsky, soloistRACHMANINOFF Symphonic Dances

BON VOYAGE CONCERTSTwo Performances!SUNDAY, JUNE 18, 2017, 7:30 pmAragon High School Theater900 Alameda de las Pulgas, San Mateo

MONDAY, JUNE 19, 2017, 7:30 pmWoodside High School Performing Arts Center199 Churchill Ave, Woodside

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David Chernyavsky is a native of St. Petersburg, Russia, and a graduate of The Juilliard School. He joined the San Francisco Symphony in 2009 and, as a member of the St. PetersburgQuartet, has performed throughout the world!

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Senior Symphony, California Theatre

On December 11, the California Theatre is the backdrop for an afternoon of music-making and merriment. The Senior Symphony, dressed to the nines, will present beloved Broadway hits —

The Phantom of the Opera, The King and I, Oklahoma!, My Fair Lady, and “Memory” from Cats.

dIt wouldn’t be an ECYS Holiday Concert without our favorite Leroy Anderson work:

Sleigh Ride; so expect those bells to be jingling and ring-ting-tingling too!14 15

FALL CLASSIC CONCERTSATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2016, 7:30 pmVisual and Performing Arts Center at De Anza College21250 Stevens Creek Blvd, Cupertino

BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 1 in CMENDELSSOHN Overture to Ruy Blas

SCHUBERT Selections from Rosamunde

MOZART Piano Concerto No. 23, Mvt. I, Karina Tseng, piano

LUNAR NEW YEAR CELEBRATION CONCERTSATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2017, 7:30 pmFlint Center at De Anza College21250 Stevens Creek Blvd, Cupertino

Tickets: $25/15 may be purchased at Ticketmaster.com.

For complete details, turn to pages 10 – 11!

MARCH FESTIVAL CONCERTSATURDAY, MARCH 11, 2017, 7:30 pmHeritage Theatre1 W. Campbell Ave., Campbell

RIMSKY-KORSAKOV Procession of the NoblesBEETHOVEN Overture to PrometheusTCHAIKOVSKY Selections from Swan LakeSAINT SAENS Havanaise, Grace Huh, violin

SAINT SAENS “Bacchanale” from Samson and Delila

SPRING DANCE CONCERTSATURDAY, MAY 20, 2017, 7:30 pmVisual and Performing Arts Center at De Anza College

MOZART Symphony No. 25SAINT SAENS Cello Concerto No. 1, Mvt. I, Erik Roise, cello

SMETANA Dances from The Bartered BrideGLINKA KamarinskayaKABALEVSKY Violin Concerto in C Major, Mvt. I, Cassandra May, violin

TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No. 2, Mvt. IV

All tickets are $15/8 with the exception of the Lunar New Year Concert.

Karina Tseng

Grace Huh

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John Eells, conductor of the Sinfonietta Orchestra, received his undergraduate degree

from York University and completed his graduate work in conducting at the Royal

Academy of Music in London. He has guest conducted with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, the New Britain and Meriden

symphony orchestras, the Jacksonville andSpokane symphony orchestras, the Leeds

Symphony Orchestra and the Hermitage StateOrchestra in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Erik RoiseSinfonietta Spring Dance

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FALL CONCERTSUNDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2016Heritage Theatre1 W. Campbell Ave., Campbell

1:00 pm Chamber Players & Camerata Orchestras3:00 pm El Camino Wind Orchestra &

Galbraith Honor Strings Featuring young artist Diego Ramil, piano

WINTER CONCERTSATURDAY, MARCH 4, 2017, 6:30 pmAlbert and Janet Schultz Cultural Arts Hall3921 Fabian Way, Palo AltoChamber Players & Camerata Orchestras,El Camino Wind Orchestra & Galbraith Honor Strings

Featuring young artist Sarah Cliff, bassoon

TALENT “A LA MODE” ICE CREAM SOCIAL CONCERT!SATURDAY, MAY 6, 2017, 6:15 pmAlbert and Janet Schultz Cultural Arts HallChamber Players & Camerata Orchestras, El Camino Wind Orchestra & Galbraith Honor Strings

Featuring special guest Alexander Zeyliger, bandoneon

Tickets Dec. & Mar: $15/8; May $15/no passes

Dr. Michail Gelfandbeinreceived his PhD at theLeningrad Conservatory ofMusic under M. Rostropovich,with post-graduate study in conducting with I. Musin,and served as Principal Cellist of the Leningrad Philharmonic for 25 years.

Dr. Richard Roperholds degrees from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Yale School of Music, and the University of Maryland. Committed to arts education, Dr. Roperserves on the faculties of the San Francisco Conserva-tory of Music Pre-College/Adult Extension department,UC Santa Cruz, College of San Mateo, and the Community School of Musicand Arts in Silicon Valley.

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Galbraith Honor Strings, Conducted by Mariya Borozina Chamber Players & Camerata Orchestras,Conducted by Dr . Michail GelfandbeinEl Camino Wind Orchestra, Conducted by Dr . Richard Roper

Mariya Borozinagraduated from TheGnessins School of Music in Moscow, Russia. Shewent on to complete a violinperformance degree at theMoscow Conservatory, and a postgraduate degree atthe Manhattan School of Music. Ms. Borozina plays first violin at the San Francisco Opera and San Francisco Ballet orchestras.

Preparatory Orchestras

Camerata Orchestra,Visual and Performing Arts Center at De Anza College

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Summer Music ConservatoryJuly 17–28, Weekdays Only

Endangered Instruments Program

Sarah CliffGalbraith Honor Strings Winter Concert

Vladimir Klibanov, Voyager Coach

The Endangered Instruments Program (EIP)provides a unique opportunity for students to learn less commonly played, but highlysought after, instruments like double bass,French horn, and viola.

ECYS provides subsidized, weekly group lessons overseen by professional coaches, as well as access to an endangered instru-ment. Once proficient on their EIP instrument,musicians are placed in ECYS orchestras andensembles.

WHO SHOULD APPLY?Participants must have a minimum of one-year experience on any instrument, must be able to read music, and pass an audition with EIP faculty. Musicians should be ages 6–14, though older students may beconsidered.

Groups meet for a Fall and Spring Session.Learn more or sign up at ecys.org!

For musicians ages 6–14!ECYS invites members and non-members to participate in the acclaimed Summer Music Conservatory Program. ECYS Associate Conductor Dr. Michail Gelfandbein will return as director of Beginning Orchestra and Intermediate Chamber Orchestra; Debra Gardner directs the Chamber Winds; and Vladimir Klibanov will coach the Viola Voyagers.

Beginning Orchestra: A class for young musicians with at least one year of private lessons; a great introduction to orchestral playing and following a conductor.

Intermediate Chamber Orchestra: An all-stringensemble for violin, viola, cello, and doublebass players with two to three years of lessons.Repertoire includes works by Mozart, Bach,Haydn, and more!

NEW! Viola Voyagers: Learn to playone of the orchestra's most in-demandinstruments! The class, for students withat least two years of violin experience, will introduce players to the viola. An instrument will be provided.

Chamber Winds: Intermediate toadvanced small ensemble repertoire for flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, andFrench horn. Other instruments may be accepted on a case-by-case basis.

A placement audition is required forthe conservatory program. All classeswill perform in an evening concert onJuly 28, 2017, 7:00 pm.

Debra Gardner, ECYS Assistant Conductor & Director of Winds

For a special early-bird discount, enroll by 2/1/17. For more information, visit ecys.org

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Chamber Music at ECYS

Roger Sun Symphony Season Finale

Topaz Trio: Jamie Wang, Valerie Wang, & Jocelyn Wang

at the HomeFirst Home Sweet Home Benefit to End Homelessness.

Divisa Ensemble: Stephanie Ng,

Meave Cox, Sara Styles,

Tomiko Tsai,Eugenia Wie

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Opportunities to Learn from Professional Chamber MusiciansThe Divisa Ensemble, ECYS Ensemble-In-Residence, serves as faculty for musicians in the Chamber Music Program. Ensembles will be invited to perform in the community, with the ensemble, in masterclasses, and to participate in competitions.

ECYS Chamber Music is open to students of the Senior Symphony, Sinfonietta, ECWO and Galbraith Honor Strings who play: violin, viola, cello, oboe, flute, clarinet, bassoon, or French horn.

Each ensemble is coached weekly from September–February, and closely studies a work of the major repertoire. Interested members may apply spring through early fall, through the ECYS website.

On February 25, 2017, 4pm, ECYS will present the Divisa Ensemble and ECYS Chamber Musicians in recital at the Community School of Music and Arts, Tateuchi Hall, 230 San Antonio Circle, in Mountain View. Admission is free!

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Leyla KabuliSymphony Season Finale

For five decades, the El Camino Youth Symphony has been an exemplary arts education organization. As the Bay Area’s foremostnon-profit instrumental training and education program, ECYS has given nearly 10,000 youths at all levels of musical training the opportunity to develop both socially and artistically.

At a time when opportunities for music education are being extinguished, while the power of musical education to make a profound difference in the lives of youth has never been more universally understood, ECYS invites you to reach out and to fill a critical gap in public funding of the arts.

We welcome you to join us as advocates of young artists and theirplace in the grand tradition of musical education and excellence. We depend upon generous friends to fund our program, as tuitionand ticket sales cover only a portion of our expenses.

On behalf of the ECYS Board of Directors, thank you for your interest in music education, and thank you for considering supporting the El Camino Youth Symphony Association. We would be honored foryou to join our family of supporters.

Cathy SpiethExecutive Director, El Camino Youth Symphony Association

Thank you for your support!

Sinfonietta Orchestra with Conductor John Eells performing at Flint Center.

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Membership & More

Cassandra MaySinfonietta Spring Dance

All programs subject to change.

Musician Portraits courtesy of: Capture Positive Photography (capturepositive.com)

All other photos: Patrick Chiang, Rhys Gwyn, Joey Huang, Ramesh Kannan, Catherine Wang

Design: N ancy Singer

El Camino Youth Symphony4055 Fabian Way • Palo Alto, CA 94303

(650) 213-7111email: ecys@ecys.org

For more information, please visit the ECYS website www.ecys.org

Follow us on Twitter.com/ElCaminoYouth.Like us on Facebook.

Musicians ages 6 to 20 are invited to make an audition appointment with ECYS. Contact the ECYS office or visit www.ecys.org for more information and an online application form.

Learn more about ECYS by visiting our website and finding us on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/El.Camino.Youth.Symphony!

The El Camino Youth Symphony Association provides the financial and administrative support necessary to maintain the ECYS music education and performance programs. The Association’s Board of Directors is composed of parents and interested community members who volunteer their time and effort. Funding comes from a variety of sources, including membership dues, concert ticket sales, benefit concerts, and donations by individuals, foundations, and corporations.

We invite you to become an ECYS patron and contribute to the music education of our young musicians. Your donation may be sent to:

Major Funders

THE DAVID AND LUCILE PACKARD

FOUNDATION

HURLBUT-JOHNSONFUND

AN ADVISED FUND OFSILICON VALLEY COMMUNITY

FOUNDATION

UNION BANKFOUNDATION

SOFIA UNIVERSITY

MELLAM FAMILY FOUNDATION

THE MAY FOUNDATION

THE REINHOLD FOUNDATION

HELEN zHANG

ANN AND GORDONGETTY FOUNDATION

ACFEA TOURCONSULTANTS

FOOTHILL ARTSALLIANCE