Short name CYO Principal conductor Liza Grossman Genre Rock | Active from 1995 Concert hall MU Waetjen Auditorium | |
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Record labels Universal Music LLC, Universal Music (Argentina) Similar Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orc, Styx, Sean Beeson, Tommy Shaw, Chuck Panozzo Profiles | ||
The Contemporary Youth Orchestra (CYO) is the only youth orchestra in the United States dedicated to the study and performance of contemporary orchestral literature. The orchestra is in residence at Cleveland State University in Cleveland, Ohio, United States. Founding Music Director Liza Grossman and the Contemporary Youth Orchestra are the recipients of awards including the ASCAP Award for Adventurous Programming, the Northern Ohio Live Award of Achievement and the Sunshine Award from Young Audiences for excellence in arts education.
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As of 2014, they have performed over 200 world premieres, all with the composers present.
Each season, CYO commissions several new works, including a concerto that is performed by a local or nationally recognized soloist. They have included well-known artists including the award winning Pacifica Quartet, Cleveland Orchestra members, Mike Garson, Valerie Naranjo, turntabalist Grandmixer DXT and jazz trumpet player Joe Miller.
CYO has collaborated with many composers including Joan Tower, Steve and Julie Bernstein, Jaz Coleman, Bernard Rands, Dmitri Tymoczko, Valerie Naranjo and Mark Mothersbaugh.
Music & Its Industry
Contemporary Youth Orchestra's annual series, 'Music And Its Industry' has been adding installments since 2007. The goal of this series is to expose the members to professional music industry experiences. CYO also performs educational outreach workshops as part of this program in which thousands of under-served area children participate.
Rock the Orchestra
They are well known for their collaboration with rock artists. The orchestra's annual series 'Rock the Orchestra' features a different performer or band every year.
Their concerts have been recorded and televised on AXS TV, PBS, VH-1 Classic and Palladia. They can be heard on iTunes and seen on DVD and Blu-ray.
Alternative Press Music Awards
In 2014, CYO became the official orchestra of the Alternative Press Music Awards. The orchestra performed entrance and exit music for award winners and presenters, as well as performed with twenty one pilots, Machine Gun Kelly, Brendon Urie, and others.
In 2015, the group performed at the award ceremony taking place at Quicken Loans Arena and have added an 8-day education workshop called APeak in partnership with Alternative Press.