MESSAGE FROM MAESTRO EYLAR

I hope that this finds everyone well and healthy during this unprecedented health crisis, and that you all are staying positive and practicing safe hygiene to flatten the curve. Carmina and I also hope that your families and loved ones are also healthy and safe.

In these very difficult times, we need all the positive energy that we can muster, and music is an unmatched source of consolation, strength, hope, and energy. Although we have had to temporarily suspend our group activity as an orchestra, it is my goal to offer us (myself included, to be sure) a little bit of both diversion from the global problems that beset us, and some instruction with regard to the music that we should be rehearsing right now.

Of course, one of the most difficult aspects of the situation we all find ourselves in at the moment is the uncertainty of how long it will all last, and when things might get back to “normal” or the “new normal” – when will CYS be able to start up again? Although there are no clear answers to this yet, we as an orchestra should be ready to go when the time comes. With that in mind, let us consider the following:

• If the June 7 concert is not a possibility, we should all aim for the June 21 date, which we still hold, for the Bon Voyage Concert at San Mateo. Alas, our CYS Senior Orchestra tour has been postponed until next season, but there is no reason that we can’t perform a concert on June 21 if the situation allows for it. It would be a Bon Voyage concert without the “Voyage”, but it would buy us needed rehearsal time, depending on when THAT might be a possibility.
• If the June 7 concert is a possibility, then we would have completed the season successfully.

The bottom line is that we should be ready on short notice and very short rehearsal time to pull together and play a concert in only a handful of rehearsals, if necessary. I firmly believe that CYS is more than capable of doing this. With that in mind, please take the time to practice along with the the videos provided by Ms. Kyme and Mr. Skeen so you get to know the music better and clarify important points that you will need to know once we can rehearse again.

In addition, for general musical educational purposes (sorry, I taught at universities for 32 years, it is ingrained in me!) I am also going to share with you all kinds of stuff that I hope you will find both instructional AND highly interesting AND important for musicians. And my aim is also to help take our minds off the difficult times, even briefly, and recharge through the power of music. Parents, this is also for your enjoyment and edification.

My colleague, Maestro Allen Tinkham, Music Director of the Chicago Youth Symphony, put it beautifully in a message to his orchestra just this week:

Music is all about human connection. Right now, as we are being denied direct contact, I believe that music will become even more important than ever. Remember that when we play, we put vibrations into the air that touch the eardrums of the listener. Music literally touches people! We all need to practice toward the moment when we will play together again.

I will be adding things on an almost a weekly basis here, so keep an eye out for them. There are many topics that I look forward to sharing with you, including the following, which are coming soon:

• Leo’s bucket list of works to conduct (I will introduce you to some awesome music!)
• A history of the orchestra
• 1810-1910 landmark works by each decade, with analysis
• And much, much more!

Let’s NOT stop practicing, and let’s look forward to that moment when we are all back together again and making beautiful music together. In addition, let us find ways to connect and keep in touch, and let us work together to find ways that we as an orchestra can bring solace and some joy to those out there who are less fortunate than ourselves: people who really may be isolated and alone. I will be working with the student council to find ways that we can attempt even through the screen of social distancing to bring some music, whether it is through you folks making some videos of yourselves playing, etc. etc. etc., that we can post or send to those less fortunate and in need of the truly positive energy that music can offer. We can do it!

We will all get through this, and Carmina and I, as well as our entire staff and directors, just want you all to know that we are thinking of you, ALL of you at CYS, and that if we can bring a few moments of much needed solace and inspiration through music, we both will work tirelessly and happily to do so. To us, CYS is family, and it has been such an honor to work with the best of the best for the last 30 years! Stay well, everyone, and please take good care of yourselves: FLATTEN THE CURVE!

Warmest regards,
Leo and Carmina