Youth Symphony
Rehearses Sundays 3:00 to 5:30 pm on full format days, and 3:00 to 6:00 pm on triple format days.
The Youth Symphony, founded in 1965, consists of the most experienced musicians in our organization. Students range in age through high school. Its members are drawn from a wide geographical area and enjoy the enrichment and challenge of performing with other serious and dedicated musicians. The Youth Symphony has a history of presenting exciting repertoire and looks forward to each season of fine performances.
Rehearses Sundays 3:00 to 5:30 pm on full format days, and 3:00 to 6:00 pm on triple format days.
The Youth Symphony, founded in 1965, consists of the most experienced musicians in our organization. Students range in age through high school. Its members are drawn from a wide geographical area and enjoy the enrichment and challenge of performing with other serious and dedicated musicians. The Youth Symphony has a history of presenting exciting repertoire and looks forward to each season of fine performances.
Audition information
Entry Auditions (Primarily Spring auditions for the following season but Fall auditions can be scheduled)
Strings: All Major Scales up to 4 sharps and 4 flats, D melodic minor scale; 3 octaves - Please only record E, Ab, and d melodic minor
Winds and brass: All Major Scales up to 3 sharps and 4 flats; 3 octaves or to the limit of your range (tongue), Chromatic scale; minimum 3 octaves, full range preferred (slur eight, breathe where needed). Please play in the written pitch.
French Horn: Range Scale: In C Major, starting at middle C (concert F), play up as far as you can, then back down to middle C and downward as far as you can.
- All students are required to audition for initial entrance into any YMI ensemble. Please complete an Audition Application and an audition will be scheduled.
- Auditions will be submitted via YouTube by May 31, 2020 for priority seating. Please upload your video to YouTube (which can be at an unlisted link if you would like) and email the link to ExecDir@YouthMusicIllinois.org.
Strings: All Major Scales up to 4 sharps and 4 flats, D melodic minor scale; 3 octaves - Please only record E, Ab, and d melodic minor
Winds and brass: All Major Scales up to 3 sharps and 4 flats; 3 octaves or to the limit of your range (tongue), Chromatic scale; minimum 3 octaves, full range preferred (slur eight, breathe where needed). Please play in the written pitch.
French Horn: Range Scale: In C Major, starting at middle C (concert F), play up as far as you can, then back down to middle C and downward as far as you can.
David Commanday, conductor
Music Director David Commanday conducts YMI’s Youth Symphony and plays a leading role in the coordination and direction of YMI’s musical ensembles and programs. He has achieved distinction conducting both professional and young musicians throughout his professional career, currently holding additional posts as Artistic Director and Conductor of the Heartland Festival Orchestra, and Director of Orchestral Activities and Instructor of Applied Cello at Eastern Illinois University.
Commanday’s work conducting for ballet has included international tours throughout Western and Eastern Europe, Great Britain, and Mexico, as well as coast-to-coast tours of the United States. In addition, he has guest conducted in concert with orchestras in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and North America – among them the Israel Philharmonic, Belgian Radio Orchestra. Vienna Pro Arte Orchestra, and the Arad Philharmonic; the Singapore National Youth Orchestra; and here at home the National Symphony, the American Symphony; the Louisville Orchestra, the South Carolina Philharmonic, and the Boca Raton, Eastern Connecticut, Seattle, Atlanta, Flagstaff and Richmond Symphonies.
Professor Commanday has taught at Harvard University, Boston University, MIT, the Longy School of Music, Tanglewood, Virginia Commonwealth University, Montclair State University, Webster University, and Eureka College. He was engaged as consultant to the Singapore Ministry of Education on youth music education, with many visits to that nation to teach master classes and conduct over a period of five years. He is active in the United States conducting All-State orchestras and adjudicating orchestra competitions, most recently conducting the All State Honors Orchestra in Oregon and District Festival in Illinois.
Mr. Commanday’s musical training began with piano and cello, followed by studies at Harvard College (A.B. cum laude) and Boston University. He trained in conducting at the University of Vienna, earning highest honors in the Austrian Staatsdiplom with Unanimous Distinction. His professional posts have included Music Director of the Boston Ballet, Assistant Conductor of the San Diego Symphony, Music Director of the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras (BYSO), Music Director of the Peoria Symphony Orchestra, and Associate Conductor of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra
Commanday performs regularly as cellist, often collaborating with distinguished guest artists – including Bobby McFerrin, Antonio Pompa-Baldi, Matt Haimovitz, Adam Neiman, Jason Vieaux, Elena Urioste, Stefan Milenkovich, Michael Brown, and Yo-Yo Ma.
Music Director David Commanday conducts YMI’s Youth Symphony and plays a leading role in the coordination and direction of YMI’s musical ensembles and programs. He has achieved distinction conducting both professional and young musicians throughout his professional career, currently holding additional posts as Artistic Director and Conductor of the Heartland Festival Orchestra, and Director of Orchestral Activities and Instructor of Applied Cello at Eastern Illinois University.
Commanday’s work conducting for ballet has included international tours throughout Western and Eastern Europe, Great Britain, and Mexico, as well as coast-to-coast tours of the United States. In addition, he has guest conducted in concert with orchestras in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and North America – among them the Israel Philharmonic, Belgian Radio Orchestra. Vienna Pro Arte Orchestra, and the Arad Philharmonic; the Singapore National Youth Orchestra; and here at home the National Symphony, the American Symphony; the Louisville Orchestra, the South Carolina Philharmonic, and the Boca Raton, Eastern Connecticut, Seattle, Atlanta, Flagstaff and Richmond Symphonies.
Professor Commanday has taught at Harvard University, Boston University, MIT, the Longy School of Music, Tanglewood, Virginia Commonwealth University, Montclair State University, Webster University, and Eureka College. He was engaged as consultant to the Singapore Ministry of Education on youth music education, with many visits to that nation to teach master classes and conduct over a period of five years. He is active in the United States conducting All-State orchestras and adjudicating orchestra competitions, most recently conducting the All State Honors Orchestra in Oregon and District Festival in Illinois.
Mr. Commanday’s musical training began with piano and cello, followed by studies at Harvard College (A.B. cum laude) and Boston University. He trained in conducting at the University of Vienna, earning highest honors in the Austrian Staatsdiplom with Unanimous Distinction. His professional posts have included Music Director of the Boston Ballet, Assistant Conductor of the San Diego Symphony, Music Director of the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras (BYSO), Music Director of the Peoria Symphony Orchestra, and Associate Conductor of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra
Commanday performs regularly as cellist, often collaborating with distinguished guest artists – including Bobby McFerrin, Antonio Pompa-Baldi, Matt Haimovitz, Adam Neiman, Jason Vieaux, Elena Urioste, Stefan Milenkovich, Michael Brown, and Yo-Yo Ma.