The Mission and History of Metropolitan Youth Symphony

DESCRIPTION OF THE ORGANIZATION

The Metropolitan Youth Symphony is a non-profit organization that provides musical training to young musicians with thirteen performing groups. Yearly enrollment is more than 500 students, from six years through college age. MYS musicians come from all over the Portland/Vancouver metropolitan area. The MYS concert season consists of three performances in the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall in downtown Portland and an additional 4-6 community concerts at schools and other venues. Several MYS performing groups give outreach concerts to school children, both in the greater Portland metro area and in outlying communities. In addition, the MYSfits chamber orchestra performs at special events, benefit concerts and on outreach concerts.

BRIEF HISTORY

The Metropolitan Youth Symphony was founded in 1974 by its current music director, Lajos Balogh. Maestro Balogh started MYS with 16 string players, and rapid growth enlarged the group to 35 by its first performance in 1975. Since the organization's inception at Marylhurst College in Lake Oswego, MYS has moved its rehearsal site several times. Currently, all rehearsal activities take place at Beaumont Middle School in Northeast Portland. Over the years, MYS has responded to need in the community for musical enrichment, and has expanded to encompass three full orchestras, three string orchestras, three concert bands, two jazz orchestras and two flute ensembles. MYS traditionally invites several guest choirs to join the Symphony Orchestra for a winter performance in the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. This collaboration gives MYS students and the singers opportunities to perform a much wider assortment of works.

PHILOSOPHY

MYS was founded on the belief that the study of music can be an integral part of a child becoming a well-rounded adult. Not only can music promote intellectual and aesthetic knowledge, it also builds many leadership skills such as responsibility, discipline, communication, acceptance and pride. MYS is a family of performing groups at various levels of musical development. It is also an environment which is supportive of family values, recognizing its partnership in the active lives of members and promoting the fun aspect of music making.

Speaking of his young musicians, Maestro Balogh has said, "It is important that we pass on our tradition. We owe it to them."

STATISTICS

Since 1974, the Metropolitan Youth Symphony has accomplished the following:

• Performed hundreds of youth concerts all over the northwest.
• Embarked upon several tours, including to Canada, Italy, Japan, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Czech Republic, Great Britain, Scandinavia, China and St. Petersburg.
• Contributed to the musical development of more than 3,500 young musicians.
• Awarded over 300 tuition scholarships to needy young musicians.
• Developed volunteer support that incorporates more than 100 people in many different capacities.
• Performed 50 concerts in the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall for close to 50,000 people.

FUTURE PLANS

The Metropolitan Youth Symphony’s mission is to educate, develop and promote young musicians. With this in mind, our long-term goals include the following:

• To continue to provide opportunities for young musicians to perform great music at the highest possible level.
• To give young musicians enhanced study of their respective instruments.
• To develop a beginning strings program to offset the programs that have been cut from the public schools.
• To develop a working chamber music program

The Metropolitan Youth Symphony
educates, develops and promotes young musicians.

Jump to Top