Hello I'm Heidi! I've been with ESYO for three years and I can only speak great things about my experience so far. Being one of the few people in my surroundings at school who feels passionate about music, I was often sad that I couldn't connect with more people about it. To remedy my frustrations I did some reasearch and came across ESYO, which I found was a youth orchestra in my area. ESYO seemed like it would be such a great fit for me, and luckily they had an open rehearsal for me to see what it’s like to be a part of the group. However, I will admit I was terrified of being a part of an orchestra for the first time. What if I wasn’t good enough? What if the others are scary? What if I still don’t fit in? These thoughts kept replaying in my head as I walked into rehearsal for the very first time. To my surprise, as soon as I walked through the door, I was welcomed with open arms. Everyone was so nice. I also met Dr. H, our conductor, for the first time, and he kindly introduced me to the group and he told me that it’s okay if I made mistakes. I was finally surrounded by like-minded people for the first time. I feel that those first two minutes I walked through the door perfectly summed up what kind of organization ESYO is. Being a part of this group has not only made me feel included, but it has made me a better musician and teammate. With your donation, you could contribute in bringing musicians as great as a experience that I was extremely fortunate to have. 

Playathon is Empire State Youth Orchestra’s most important fundraiser and friend-raiser of the year! This fun-filled day of free musical performances raises money for ESYO while showcasing the breadth and depth of our programs. It is the one day of the year when all ESYO ensembles (including CHIME) perform in one location!

Your support is needed now more than ever. The marathon display of musical talent helps ESYO ensure no qualified musician is ever turned away from the ESYO experience because of an inability to pay. The money raised will support a substantial portion of ESYO’s operating expenses and musician scholarships.

Thank you for your support of ESYO. And be sure to join us at Crossgates Mall on Saturday, March 15th from 10:30 am to 5:15 pm for PLAYATHON!!!