Season 33
1984-1985
Roster
November 1984 Season Opener Concert
The fall of 1984 marked a significant milestone for the California Youth Symphony as it launched its 33rd season under the leadership of conductor Dr. Lauren Jakey. The season's first concert, held at the San Mateo Performing Arts Center on November 4th and De Anza College's Flint Auditorium on November 11th, presented a formidable program that showcased the orchestra's versatility. The repertoire included the standard "The Star Spangled Banner," followed by Mozart’s Symphony No. 35 in D Major ("Haffner"), Saint-Saëns’ Piano Concerto No. 2, Copland’s quintessential "Appalachian Spring", and Ravel’s complex Daphnis et Chloe, Suite No. 2. A central feature of this program was the return of Jennie Chao, the winner of the 1984 CYS Young Artist competition, as the featured piano soloist. Chao’s performance of the Saint-Saëns was widely praised in local reviews, with the Times Tribune calling her a "technical powerhouse" and describing the entire orchestra as superb, with specific commendations for the woodwinds and Concertmaster Charles Chan.
The success of these November concerts was the culmination of a rigorous and transformative journey for the 100 young performers, many of whom were new to the ensemble. Features in the Los Altos Town Crier detailed the meticulous preparation, starting with intensive auditions and an August summer camp that fused members from over 30 Bay Area communities into a singular, cohesive unit. Dr. Jakey’s distinct rehearsal style - characterized by precise commands to "look at me before the beat" and a focus on creating a unified orchestral sound - was central to this process. The reviews validated the orchestra’s intense preparation, noting their "robust confidence" and "sophisticated interpretations," confirming that CYS had once again succeeded in the "mythical" task of rebuilding and transforming a new group of talented young individuals into a professional-grade symphony orchestra.
March 1985 Concert
The California Youth Symphony’s 33rd Season continued in March 1985 with a bold and demanding second concert series that pushed the ensemble toward new heights of technical complexity. Under the baton of Dr. Lauren Jakey, the orchestra performed on March 10th at the San Mateo Performing Arts Center and March 17th at Flint Auditorium in Cupertino. The ambitious program featured Beethoven’s monumental Symphony No. 3 in E-flat Major ("Eroica"), Vieuxtemps’ Violin Concerto No. 5 in A minor, and Paul Hindemith’s Symphonic Metamorphosis of Themes by Carl Maria von Weber. This selection of "tough, important repertoire" was designed to challenge the young musicians, providing them with essential experience in handling both the classical rigors of Beethoven and the intricate, modern orchestrations of Hindemith.
A major highlight of the series was the "high polish" performance of violin soloist Lisa Lhee. Taking on the Vieuxtemps concerto - a work often associated with the elegance of the French violin school - Lhee was lauded by critics for her precise intonation, tonal variety, and elegantly articulated bowings. In the orchestral works, the woodwind section was identified as a "prime asset," specifically during the Andantino of the Hindemith, while the percussion section was given the opportunity to "strut their impressive stuff" during the Turandot Scherzo. Although the Peninsula Times-Tribune noted that Dr. Jakey’s brisk, "speedster" tempos occasionally challenged the ensemble's cohesion, the overall performance was praised for its robust sound and the valuable growth it represented for the players.
This period also marked a significant organizational expansion for CYS. Recognizing the "sad" state of school music programs at the time and the difficulty students faced transitioning from simple training pieces to complex works like Stravinsky, Dr. Jakey oversaw the creation of two new intermediate orchestras. Supported by a grant from the Peninsula Community Foundation, these ensembles - rehearsing at Foothill College and the College of San Mateo - were established to bridge the gap between the training and main orchestras. This strategic growth ensured that CYS could continue its mission as an "unsung hero" of the Peninsula’s classical music scene, fostering a steady pipeline of talent for years to come.
May 1985 Season Finale
The California Youth Symphony concluded its triumphant 33rd Season in May 1985 with a series of farewell concerts that celebrated the remarkable "virtuosos" within its ranks. These final performances, held on May 12th at the San Mateo Performing Arts Center and May 19th at De Anza College's Flint Center, served as a poignant tribute to a graduating class of seniors who had reached a semi-professional level of artistry. Under the direction of Dr. Lauren Jakey, the concerts highlighted the immense diversity of talent across the Bay Area, featuring students who were not only elite musicians but also accomplished scholars, athletes, and community leaders.
A major centerpiece of the finale was a solo performance by Joel Jaffe, a Homestead High senior and four-year CYS veteran. Jaffe, a versatile musician who also composed and arranged for marching bands, stepped into the spotlight as the clarinet soloist for Carl Maria von Weber’s Concerto No. 1. His performance was a testament to the high standards of the CYS woodwind section, which had been noted throughout the season for its exceptional quality. The program showcased the "spark and crackle" of a 110-member ensemble that had, over the course of the year, transformed from a group of individuals into a world-class symphonic unit.
The May concerts were particularly significant for the graduating seniors who helped define the orchestra's character. Among those honored were Rene Dupre (Principal Trumpet), Cathy Newland (Co-Principal Clarinet), and Stone Shih (Violin), alongside Los Altos standouts like Jay Gluckman (Principal Percussion), Laura Jacobson (Principal Flute), Sonya Sigler (Trombone), and Joel Jaffe. These students represented the pinnacle of the CYS mission: balancing rigorous musical training with academic excellence at institutions like Stanford, UC Berkeley, and Harvard. As the 33rd season drew to a close, the "unsung heroes" of the Peninsula’s classical scene bid farewell to their seniors, having successfully nurtured a new generation of musicians ready to take their place in the professional world and beyond.
