1 East 53rd Street
New York, NY 10022
Tel: 212-758-1242
Fax: 212-758-0963
E-mail: ARYO NYC @ AOL.com
Contact: Olga Krassikova, Programs Coordinator

Founded in 1987, the American Russian Youth Orchestra, formerly the American Soviet Youth Orchestra, was the first crosscultural exchange jointly produced by the United States and the former Soviet Union. In 1993, ARYO entered into a partnership in the United States with Bard College and in 1996 in Russia with the Mariinsky Theatre and Russian National Orchestra. Today, after five World Tours, ARYO has achieved international recognition as a Musical Ambassadorship and a world-class training orchestra of rising stars for musicians, conductors and composers.

Each tour year, following open auditions, a new orchestra is chosen. ARYO musicians, ages 17-25, rehearse at Bard College, ARYO's permanent home, then tour both countries. ARYO is currently the only international orchestra touring the Russian provinces.

ARYO's roster of conductors includes Leon Botstein, Valery Gergiev, Zubin Mehta, Dmitri Kitayenko, Leonard Slatkin and Hugh Wolff.

ARYO sponsors individual residencies for its alumni which are hosted by orchestras and conservatories in both countries. ARYO chamber ensembles, including "The Mighty Five", also give performances year-round.

In 1993, Hillary Clinton and Naina Yeltsin assumed the role of Honorary Chairwomen, their only partnership on the world stage.

World Tour 1997, ARYO's Tenth Anniversary, was highlighted by appearances in the United States at Carnegie Hall, Tanglewood's Ozawa Hall and Nashville's War Memorial Auditorium. In Russia, ARYO performed in Moscow, Kazan, Togliatti, Samara, Ulianovsk, Yekaterinburg and, under Maestro Valery Gergiev, in St. Petersburg's White Nights Festival.

ARYO is currently working with the American Symphony Orchestra, Mariinsky and Russian National Orchestra to present a major international tour in 2000.

Sponsored by:
Center for Civil Society International

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