The NBA All Stars recently came and went, but New York City has a new set of All Stars that, frankly, we're much more excited about!
The Philharmonic and the Harmony Program have launched the inaugural Harmony All Stars Ensemble: nine middle- and high-school students from low-income neighborhoods in New York City selected by audition to participate in an 11-day mentorship with New York Philharmonic musicians.
The kids will attend a Philharmonic rehearsal and Young People's Concert, experience an intensive day of coaching and rehearsal, and perform with their Philharmonic mentors at a free public concert in the David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center on May 20.
The Harmony Program, an after-school music program modeled on Venezuela's "El Sistema," provides instruments and free daily instruction to more than 200 students from more than 40 schools in underserved communities across New York City. The Harmony Program is a Partner in Philharmonic Academy Jr., a New York Philharmonic initiative providing training to pre-college students by Philharmonic musicians in partnership with institutions in the New York City area committed to strong orchestra programs.
See you May 20 for the free concert!
Above: Philharmonic Violinist Hae-Young Ham plays amid Harmony Program students at a master class at the United Palace for Cultural Arts in Washington Heights, Manhattan, January 31, 2015. (Photo: Yuan Kong, CUNY)
