Season 17

1968-1969

Roster

Seniors

November 1968 Concert

The California Youth Symphony Orchestra, led by Conductor Aaron Sten, launched its 17th Season with its first concert in November 1968. Music enthusiasts had two opportunities to attend: the first on Sunday, November 3, 1968, at 7:00 p.m. at San Mateo High School, and the second on Sunday, November 10, 1968, at 2:30 p.m. at the Foothill College Gym. 

The program kicked off with Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827)'s Overture No. 3 (“Leonore”), followed by a more modern flair with Alan Hovhaness (1911–2000)'s Fantasy on Japanese Wood Prints, op. 211, showcasing Karol Davis as the Xylophone Soloist.

After an intermission, the concert concluded with Johannes Brahms (1833–1897)'s monumental Symphony No. 4 in E Minor, op. 98, performed in its entirety across its four movements:

I. Allegro non troppo II. Andante moderato III. Allegro giocoso IV. Allegro energico e passionato

February 1968 Concert

Concert Program Overview

CYS presented its 17th Season - second concert across two dates: Sunday, February 23, 1969, at 7:00 p.m. at San Mateo High School, and a repeat performance on Sunday, March 2, 1969, at 2:30 p.m. at the Foothill College Gym.

The program featured an impressive line-up, opening with Samuel Barber (1910–1981)'s Overture to "The School for Scandal," op. 5.

The first soloist of the evening was violinist Robert Levine, the winner of the instrumental division, performing the first movement (Allegro ma non troppo) of Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827)'s Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D Major, op. 61, noting the use of the Cadenza by Fritz Kreisler.

Following the concerto was Howard Hanson (1896–1981)'s Merry Mount Suite, which featured the movements: Overture, Children's Dance, Love Duet, and Maypole Dances, after which an intermission provided a brief respite.

The second half featured pianist Neil Rutman, the piano division winner, performing the three movements of Sergei Prokofiev (1891–1953)'s Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 1 in D-flat Major, op. 10:

I. Allegro brioso II. Andante assai III. Allegro scherzando

The program concluded with Nikolai Andreyevich Rimsky-Korsakov (1844–1908)'s vivid Capriccio Espagnol, op. 34, covering its five sections: I. Alborada, II. Variazioni, III. Alborada, IV. Scena e Canto gitano, and V. Fandango asturiano.

Featured Soloists

Robert Levine (Violinist)

Robert Levine was featured as the violin soloist, performing the first movement of the Beethoven Violin Concerto. The program notes from the accompanying newspaper article specify that he was the winner of the instrumental division of the California Youth Symphony Auditions.

At the time of the concert, he was a Senior at Gunn High School in Palo Alto. He had already studied with Conductor Aaron Sten for six years and was the Concertmaster of the California Youth Symphony for five years.

Robert Levine ultimately became a Principal Violist (switching from violin) and enjoyed a highly distinguished career. He served as Principal Violist of The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra for six years and, critically, served as the Principal Violist of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra for over three decades, beginning in 1987. He also performed as a soloist with various orchestras and was a member of the Orford String Quartet.

Neil Rutman (Pianist)

Neil Rutman, the winner of the piano division, was the soloist for Serge Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No. 1. The newspaper notes he was a sophomore at Homestead High School in Sunnyvale and had been studying piano for four years. He was already a highly accomplished young man, having accompanied his school's Choir and Madrigal Choir, and was working on composing a "half completed opera."

Neil Rutman went on to become an internationally recognized and acclaimed pianist. He is a top prize winner of numerous international competitions, including the Busoni, Kapell, and Casadesus competitions, and the International J. S. Bach Competition. He has performed worldwide in prestigious halls like Carnegie Hall and Alice Tully Hall. He is currently an Artist-in-Residence at the University of Central Arkansas and is also a published author on piano literature.

March 1959 Concerts

Opera House Concert (March 8, 1969)

CYS's first March concert was a more traditional symphonic performance and marked the third straight year the orchestra played at the prestigious San Francisco Opera House. The event was sponsored by American Airlines and Radio Station KCBS.

• Program Highlights: The repertoire included standard classical works such as Hector Berlioz's "Symphonie Fantastique" and the world premiere of Carol of the Menlo Park and Manuel Karlin of Palo Alto's "Pine Tree Fantasy."
• The Orchestra's Condition: The article notes that a number of musicians had been ill in February, but the orchestra was expected to be in top shape physically and musically for this major date.

Duke Ellington Symphonic Jazz Benefit Concert (March 9, 1969)

The following night, the orchestra performed a special, high-profile "symphonic jazz" concert with legendary jazz composer and bandleader Duke Ellington at the Foothill College Gymnasium. The concert was a major success, and all proceeds went toward financing the orchestra's upcoming Australian tour in June. Ellington was highly involved, conducting several numbers and performing as a piano soloist.

• Purpose: A benefit for the orchestra's Australian tour expenses, which were projected to exceed $10,000.
• The Program (A Mix of Classical and Jazz):
  • Classical/Symphonic Selections: The concert included two familiar works from the orchestra's repertory to give the audience a frame of reference: Nicholas Rimsky-Korsakov's "Capriccio Espagnol" and Alan Hovhaness's "Fantasy on Japanese Wood Prints."
  • Duke Ellington's Works: The majority of the evening was dedicated to Ellington's compositions, featuring music from his catalog spanning nearly 40 years.
    • The formal first half included Ellington classics such as "The Mooch," "Mood Indigo," "Sophisticated Lady," and "Solitude," with all compositions featuring the composer at the piano.
    • The second half included his dramatic symphonic piece, "The Golden Broom and the Green Apple," his fantasy piece "Golden Broom and the Green Apple" (a classical work written for the Stratford Shakespeare Festival a few years prior), and pieces like "Take The A Train" and "Beginnning to See the Light," which were performed in a swinging style.
  • Soloists (Non-Classical): Ellington's musicians, including tenor trombonist Nick Tenbrook and drummer Doug Rider, provided featured improvised solos during the second half.

The overall collaboration was deemed a powerful blend of the "big symphonic setting of Ellington's classic" with the energetic freedom of jazz, providing a rare opportunity for both the audience and the young musicians.

May 1969 Concert

Concert Program Overview

CYS concluded its 17th Season with two significant musical events in May 1969. The month began with a high-profile benefit concert on Sunday, May 11th, at the San Mateo High School Auditorium, designed to secure final funds for the orchestra's Australian tour. The undisputed star of this event was legendary comedian and violinist Jack Benny, who appeared as the guest benefit artist. Benny, noted for his historic fundraising success for major orchestras, performed his signature violin "gala" for the youth musicians, who served as the accompanying ensemble. Following this successful benefit, the orchestra presented its formal 17th Season - Third Concert on two subsequent Sundays. This program featured Bedřich Smetana's lively Overture to The Bartered Bride and his evocative Moldau, alongside Samuel Barber's reflective Adagio for Strings. The program also showcased the final young soloist of the season, Ramon Espinosa, performing the first movement (Allegro non troppo) of Édouard Lalo's Symphonie espagnole. The grand finale of the season was dedicated to Dmitri Shostakovich's powerful and challenging Symphony No. 5, performed in its entirety, providing a formidable conclusion to the orchestra's year before their international tour.

Featured Musicians

Ramon Espinosa (Violinist) 

Ramon Espinosa's role in the concert was to perform the challenging first movement (Allegro non troppo) of Édouard Lalo's Spanish-themed showpiece, Symphonie espagnole.

Ramon Espinosa was a young, highly talented musician selected to perform a major concerto with the orchestra, marking a significant milestone in his early career.

Jack Benny (Comedian and Virtuous Violinist)

Jack Benny (born Benjamin Kubelsky; 1894–1974) was one of the 20th century's most beloved and enduring American entertainers, renowned for his highly successful career in vaudeville, radio, television, and film. He is best known for his comedic persona - a miserly, vain, and famously 39-year-old character known for his impeccable comedic timing and signature exasperated pause.

While his comedy made him a superstar, music was his first love and his constant trademark. Benny began studying the violin at the age of six and was considered a child prodigy, though he often joked about his aversion to practice. He initially pursued a professional career as a violinist in vaudeville theaters. However, after a comedic ad-lib while performing for the U.S. Navy during World War I, he realized his talent lay in comedy.

In his legendary radio and television show, the violin became a running gag; his character notoriously played badly or only attempted pieces that were too difficult. In reality, Benny was an accomplished and proficient violinist who took his music seriously, even owning a Stradivarius.

Throughout his later career, Benny used his fame and genuine musical skill for immense good. He toured extensively, performing benefit concerts - often at no charge - for symphony orchestras across the United States. His appearance with the California Youth Symphony in May 1969 was particularly notable, as the articles stated it was the first time he had given a concert for a youth orchestra, contributing to the millions of dollars he helped raise for music education and arts organizations nationwide.

Summer 1969 Australian Tour

CYS successfully completed its third major international engagement with a memorable four-week concert tour of Australia in June and July 1969. 

The trip, made possible by an invitation from the Australian Broadcasting Commission, involved a contingent of 102 teenage musicians (boys and girls aged 12 to 18) from over 40 schools across the Bay Area. Led by Conductor Aaron Sten, the orchestra performed a total of 16 concerts - including five formal evening concerts and seven educational concerts for school audiences - in the major Australian cities of Brisbane, Melbourne, Canberra, and Sydney. 

The tour was a resounding success both musically and financially; all concerts were reported to have played to full or sold-out houses, with Australian audiences greeting the young musicians with "enthusiastic audiences and standing ovations." News headlines praised the youths, noting they were "Amateurs With The Touch of Professionalism." The extensive repertoire covered a broad range of music, from classical traditions to works specially prepared for the tour, including pieces by Duke Ellington. Beyond the stage, the most rewarding experience was cultural: the orchestra members were home-housed by Australian families, a practice that afforded them rich and enriching experiences that they cited as the most valuable part of the trip. The successful tour was recognized at home, receiving congratulations from California Governor Ronald Reagan, who called the students "fine ambassadors of our Golden State and the United States."