AYS Receives NEA Grant for "Vivaldi to Video Games" Concert

Los Angeles, CA, May 12, 2016 (Newswire.com) - National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Jane Chu has approved more than $82 million to fund local arts projects and partnerships in the NEA’s second major funding announcement for fiscal year 2016.  Included in this announcement is an Art Works award of $15,000 to the American Youth Symphony for a cutting-edge free concert experience that will serve as a unique audience development opportunity. 

“Vivaldi to Video Games” will pair game scores with classical works that inspired the composers. Composers will join the orchestra for the concert and a symposium, discussing their compositions and musical inspirations with musicians and fans alike. An audience of classical music enthusiasts and gamers will be treated to complimentary tickets to a live-to-picture performance and Q&A session. This is a unique opportunity to experience game scores performed by a 100 piece orchestra, in the same program with classical masterworks, and without the barrier to entry of a costly ticket.

For 51 years we have offered extraordinary free concerts in Los Angeles, but this is the first time we are doing so in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts.

Varina Bleil, AYS Executive Director

“The arts are all around us, enhancing our lives in ways both subtle and obvious, expected and unexpected,” said NEA Chairman Jane Chu. “Supporting projects like the one from the American Youth Symphony offers more opportunities to engage in the arts every day.” 

"This is very exciting recognition for AYS. For 51 years we have offered extraordinary free concerts in Los Angeles, but this is the first time we are doing so in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. The concert will be a fantastic gift to the community and we are very grateful to NEA for supporting our mission." - Varina Bleil, Executive Director

"We appreciate the NEA's confidence in funding an innovative AYS concert that will expand the experiences of our players and audience" - Kevin Dretzka, Chairman of the Board of Directors.

The American Youth Symphony, now approaching its 52nd season, has been heralded by KUSC’s Jim Svejda as “The finest youth symphony on earth!” The mission of AYS is to inspire the future of classical music. The orchestra provides paid fellowships to 100 musicians ages 15-27 who represent extraordinary talent from all over the world, and presents concerts for free as a gift to the community – part of a long-standing commitment to eliminating all barriers to experiencing the remarkable beauty, power and inspiration of classical masterworks.

​CONTACT: Alice Dutton / [email protected] / 310-470-233

Source: American Youth Symphony