Season 50

2001-2002

Roster

Seniors

Summer 2001 Redwood Camp

A Symphony of Fifty Years: The Golden Opener (November 2001 Concert)

As the autumn leaves settled over the Bay Area in November 2001, the California Youth Symphony stood on the precipice of a historic milestone - its 50th Anniversary Season. This was more than a concert; it was a "Golden Age" in the making. Under the visionary baton of Maestro Leo Eylar, the orchestra didn't just perform—they commanded the stage, proving that while their members were young, their artistry was timeless.

The air in the Flint Center and the San Mateo Performing Arts Center was thick with a unique blend of celebration and solemnity. In a poignant gesture of solidarity following the tragedy of 9/11, the orchestra transformed these performances into a beacon of hope, dedicating proceeds to the Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund. It was a powerful reminder that music is not just an aesthetic pursuit, but a healing force for the community.

The Artistic Pinnacle: Mahler & Rachmaninov

The program was a testament to the orchestra’s formidable reputation. To open a season with Mahler’s Symphony No. 5 was an act of artistic courage. From the haunting opening trumpet fanfare to the lush, yearning strings of the Adagietto, the ensemble navigated Mahler’s complex emotional landscape with a maturity that defied their years. The brass section, in particular, soared through the exhausting score, earning rare acclaim for their technical precision and "tonal quality that has no peer on the Peninsula."

A Star Ascending: Featured Soloist Adrian Tam

Central to this golden celebration was the presence of Adrian Tam, the 17-year-old virtuoso and winner of the 2001 Young Artist Competition. Taking his place at the piano for Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No. 2, Tam invited the audience into a world of Romantic fervor.

With "gracefulness and elegance," his fingers danced through the familiar, richly lush melodies of the C-Minor concerto. Tam’s performance was a dialogue between youthful energy and sophisticated restraint—a perfect personification of the CYS mission. As he moved through the sweeping second movement, it became clear to all in attendance that they were witnessing the dawn of a brilliant musical journey, framed by the legacy of an orchestra that had spent fifty years nurturing such exceptional talent.