VYMA - Orchestral Program

Verdugo Youth Orchestra performing at Thorne Hall

VYMA encourages teamwork rather than competition. We encourage the students to feel that they are all part of one ensemble and each student can move on to more challenging music as he or she is ready. We downplay the importance that orchestras often place on seating for status. The seating arrangement is changed frequently, not as reward or punishment, but to give students the opportunity to play both the melodic and harmonic lines and to sit in the front and the back of the orchestra. No one is treated as "second fiddle" because all parts of the music are equally important. Several advanced students will, however, have the opportunity to be concert master or section leader.

All students with a minimum of one year private instruction are welcome. VYMA orchestras are inclusive, currently bringing together young musicians from over 40 different public and private schools. To keep students actively engaged, the program takes a multi-tiered approach. Repertoire is carefully selected to meet the abilities, aspirations, and educational needs of students at varying levels of musical development. All ensembles have multiple performance opportunities throughout the year. Past venues have included the Walt Disney Concert Hall, Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Thorne Hall, theaters, libraries and museums.

Verdugo Youth Orchestra, open to all instruments, is designed for intermediate and advanced players who have had orchestral experience and are prepared to explore the orchestra repertoire of Baroque, Classical, Romantic and contemporary composers. Verdugo Youth Orchestra meets on Tuesdays from 4:15 to 6:30.

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The Verdugo Youth Ensemble welcomes all young players with at least 1 year of instrumental instruction and little or no orchestral experience. Students learn the basics of ensemble playing and how to work with a conductor while they prepare music for performance. Verdugo Youth Ensemble meets on Tuesdays from 4:15 to 6:30.

Verdugo Youth Ensemble performing at Wilson Middle School

Click here for an application for the orchestral programs.
Printer friendly description of our program click here to download!

Music Director and Conductor
Samvel Chilingarian

Samvel gained his professional experience as a Violinist /Conductor in Austria and in the United States. He has toured and performed extensively throughout Europe, Japan, the United States and Central America with The Melos Ensemble, Vienna Sinfonietta, Orchestra Internazionale d’Italia, Tashen Oper, Ensemble Nine and the Arioso String Quartet. Mr. Chilingarian has performed in such prestigious venues as the Musikverein in Vienna, Teatro di San Carlo in Napoli, Teatro Farnese in Parma, Casals Hall in Tokyo, Birmingham Performing Arts Center in England, Merkin Concert Hall in New York and Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles.

Mr. Chilingarian holds a Masters degree from the University of Missouri Kansas City, after which he continued his studies in Europe at the Wiener Hochschule and the Wiener Neustadt Konservatorium. While in Vienna, Mr. Chilingarian joined the Niederosterrichisches Tonkunstler Orchester, the Pons Artis Chamber Orchestra and the Kamer Oper Orchestra. In 1994, Mr. Chilingarian received an invitation from the Linz Music School to conduct the Summer Festival Youth Orchestra.

Mr. Chilingarian has instituted and conducted numerous Youth Orchestras and Orchestral Summer Seminars both in Europe and in the U.S. Such as the Linz Yugendorchester in Austria, the Kadima Conservatory Philharmonic, the Hanareum Youth Orchestra, the Glendale Youth Orchestra String Ensemble, Bethesda University Orchestral Ensemble and the Verdugo Youth Orchestra.

Mr. Chilingarian has served on the faculties of the University of Missouri Kansas City Continuing Education Department, the Linz Music School Summer Seminar in Austria and most recently the Bethesda C. University in Los Angeles.

Mr. Chilingarian was the winner of “Most Distinguished Musician Award” at the 2005 IBLA International Competition in Italy, with the Elixir Piano Trio.

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