Season 19
1970-1971
Seniors
October 1970 Concert
This concert marked CYS's First Concert of its 19th Season, under the direction of Aaron Sten. The program was performed twice in October 1970: first at San Mateo High School on Sunday, October 18th, at 7:00 p.m., and then at the Foothill College Gym on Sunday, October 25th, at 2:30 p.m.
The evening opened with Felix Mendelssohn (1809–1847)'s Symphony No. 3 in A Minor, op. 56 (“Scottish”), encompassing the four movements: I. Andante/Allegro, II. Vivace non troppo, III. Adagio, and IV. Allegro con Spirito.
Following the intermission, the program featured Jean Sibelius (1865–1957)'s powerful symphonic fantasy, Pohjola’s Daughter, op. 9. The concert concluded with Richard Wagner (1813–1883)'s magnificent and well-known **Prelude to Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg.
March 1971 Concert
CYS's 19th Season – Second Concert was held on Sunday, March 14, 1971, at 7:00 p.m. at San Mateo High School. The program, conducted by Aaron Sten, presented a diverse collection of works spanning European Romanticism and 20th-century American music.
The concert opened with Bedřich Smetana (1824–1884)'s symphonic poem, Vyšehrad. This was followed by Warren Benson (1924–2005)'s contemporary piece, Polyphonies for Percussions, which was conducted by Richard Petersen. The first half concluded with William Schuman (1910–1992)'s New England Triptych:
I. "Be Glad Then, America" II. "When Jesus Wept" III. "Chester"
Following the intermission, the program centered on the first movement, "Allegro molto moderato," of Edvard Grieg (1843–1907)'s Concerto for Piano and Orchestra in A Minor, op. 16, with Dorian Ho performing as the featured soloist.
The evening concluded with Morton Gould (1913–1996)'s lively Latin American Symphonette, consisting of four dance movements:
I. Rhumba II. Tango III. Guaracha IV. Conga
May 1971 Benefit Concert
This concert was a special benefit event held to raise funds for CYS's upcoming European tour and participation in the International Festival of Youth Orchestras in Switzerland.
Held at the College of San Mateo Gym on Sunday, May 9, 1971, at 2:30 P.M., the program was a unique collaboration that blended classical music with jazz. Under the direction of CYS conductor Aaron Sten, the orchestra shared the stage with two acclaimed guest acts: The Modern Jazz Quartet (MJQ) and highly respected Brazilian-born guitarist Laurindo Almeida.
According to reports, the program included a performance of the MJQ's "Interplay" Concerto for Jazz Quartet and Strings, as well as "The Spiritual", both featuring the orchestra and the jazz ensemble together. This highly anticipated cross-genre concert showcased the CYS's versatility and provided a sophisticated musical fusion for the audience.
May 1971 Concert
Concert Program Overview
CYS concluded its 19th Season with its Third Concert, conducted by Aaron Sten, performing on Sunday, May 16, 1971, at the Foothill College Gym, and again on May 23rd at the San Mateo High School Auditorium. This program served as the orchestra's final performance before embarking on its European tour.
The concert opened with Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840–1893)'s dramatic Symphony No. 4 in F Minor, op. 36.
Following the intermission, the concert highlighted the talents of the orchestra's own principal bassoonist, 17-year-old Carter Brandon, who performed the first movement (Allegro) of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791)'s Concerto for Bassoon and Orchestra in B-flat Major, K. 191.
The concert concluded with Jacques Ibert (1890–1962)'s vibrant suite, Escales (Port of Call), which musically depicted the Mediterranean ports of Palermo, Tunis-Nefta, and Valencia.
Featured Soloist: Carter Brandon (bassoonist)
Carter Brandon was a highly accomplished 17-year-old bassoonist who served as the principal bassoonist for the California Youth Symphony for four years and was a student at Woodside High School. Beyond his musical achievements, Brandon was recognized for his broader talents, having been selected as one of four male nationwide winners of the Seymour Memorial Award and named a finalist in the Bank of America Awards in the field of fine arts. He also had a focus on service, having spent six weeks the previous summer working in small medical clinics in Guatemala. Following his high school graduation, Brandon planned to spend a year studying and traveling in Paris and Europe before entering Harvard University in the fall of 1972.
Summer 1971 Switzerland and Czechoslovakia Tour
In the summer of 1971, to celebrate its twentieth anniversary, CYS embarked on an ambitious three-week European tour to Switzerland and Czechoslovakia. The 105-member orchestra, conducted by Aaron Sten, was one of only eleven groups invited to participate in the prestigious International Festival of Youth Orchestras in Lausanne, Switzerland. Following their appearance in Switzerland, the musicians traveled behind the Iron Curtain for a unique cultural exchange in Czechoslovakia, where they were hosted by Moravian Orchestra families and gave concerts in three cities, including Brno. To prepare for the rigorous schedule of 16 concerts and the challenge of transporting their instruments, the students underwent intensive physical and musical training, practicing up to three full programs daily.
Their demanding repertoire included major works such as Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840–1893)'s Symphony No. 4 in F Minor, op. 36, Felix Mendelssohn (1809–1847)'s Symphony No. 3 in A Minor, op. 56 (“Scottish”), Jacques Ibert (1890–1962)'s Escales (Port of Call), and works by Richard Wagner (1813–1883) and William Schuman (1910–1992). Despite needing an additional $11,000 in funding, the CYS was prepared to use music as "a universal language" for their international goodwill tour, with a doctor and two nurses accompanying the trip alongside 16 parent-chaperones.
