YAS » About Us

San Diego Young Artists Symphony About Us
Our mission: The San Diego Young Artists Symphony provides orchestral and chamber music training for young musicians who have the ability and desire to study and perform symphonic repertoire in an environment that has expectations and standards of excellence similar to those of a music conservatory. The San Diego Young Artists Symphony was established February 1995 by the late maestro Louis Campiglia as a nonprofit organization with a mission to provide serious music students the opportunity to study, enjoy, and perform challenging symphonic literature. Campiglia's professional leadership developed a musical environment that incorporated standards of excellence similar to a conservatory. Assisted by a volunteer Board of Trustees, Campiglia's vision for YAS continues today under the music direction of maestra Mary Gerard, and the Young Artists is now the orchestra-in-residence at Mesa College. Mary Gerard is highly celebrated for her success as a gifted teacher of the violin and viola. Throughout her career, she has produced string students who now occupy principal positions in noted orchestras throughout the nation. All the while, she held first violin position with the San Diego Symphony, the San Diego Chamber Orchestra, the Starlight Theatre Orchestra, and the San Diego Opera Orchestra. Gerard achieved early recognition in the music world when performing at the Carnegie Recital Hall. Her career has included a professorship in the Music Department at San Diego State University. Today Gerard brings her vigorous passion and grace to the Young Artists as its principal conductor and music director. We are privileged to have this magical teacher among us. The orchestra and its training ensembles are a rich experience offering a solution to California's decline in music education. Applicants are accepted by audition. YAS is funded primarily by tuition; concert good-will offerings; through gifts from individuals and corporations; by the City of San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture; by the San Diego Foundation; and by The Seth Sprague Educational and Charitable Foundation. YAS is a full symphonic orchestra that performs the same symphonic repertoire as that of a professional orchestra. Each year we present ten to twelve concerts within San Diego County and nearby communities. One of our programs, Symphonic Sounds in Sacred Spaces, is performed in San Diego and El Cajon churches; these spaces provide excellent acoustics. There are no ticket sales or entrance fees—we suggest a donation. This concert series succeeds as an outreach to strengthen ties within our diverse communities. The orchestra's popular Viennese Ball is performed annually in San Diego's culturally rich Balboa Park. Dancers from the western United States arrive in ball gowns, black tie, and costumes to waltz to the music of the Strauss family, Vienna's extraordinary composers. Louis Campiglia initiated the first entire Strauss concert ball in 1978, directing seventy-five balls, conducting Strauss in Las Vegas; London; Sun Valley, Idaho; Laguna Nigel, California, as well as San Diego. With his passing in November 2004, YAS continues to honor this tradition. We have devoted parents and friends, Friends of Young Artists, who assist with this awesome Ball event. We could not present this program without them and are deeply grateful to our members. In addition to this full orchestra, YAS sponsors four training orchestras: Fiddle ‘n’ Bow and Con Brio are conducted by Hernan Constantino; Jill Coady conducts Winds ‘n’ Brass; Suzuki Strings are led by Jane and Eric Frey. These four programs instruct less experienced players in the fundamentals of ensemble performance and emphasize the joy of music. Here they build concert awareness, etiquette, and concentration. Eventually they gain the required training to audition successfully for the advanced Young Artists orchestra. Our education outreach program offers mini performances by the Young Artists String Quartet. This is a select ensemble skilled with demanding chamber music techniques. They perform in schools to spread the joy of music and to inspire novice musicians. The board members, staff, orchestra, and parents, gratefully acknowledge the following volunteers who gave generously of their time, talents and finances to this website. Their devout passion for YAS inspired this extraordinary gift. Thank you. Webmaster: Christopher Watson Website Design: Dorothy Rozzi Belknap and Christopher Watson Giving Pages: Karen Berger, Ed.D. Photography: Dorothy Rozzi Belknap; John Berger, MD; Jim Bunnell, USN; David Chiang; Paul Grant; Corey Marco, M.D., Gene Nocon