Youth Orchestra of the Americas

The Orchestra of the Americas is a pan-Western hemispheric orchestra of young musicians aged 18 to 30, a counterpart to multinational European youth orchestras. The group has offices in Washington DC, is based in Mexico City, and also maintains institutional presences in Canada, Brazil, Costa Rica, and Venezuela. The orchestra was founded in 2002 as the Youth Orchestra of the Americas. For a time it used the transitional name YOA Orchestra of the Americas, winning a Latin Grammy award for Best Classical Recording under that name in 2015 with pianist Gabriela Montero. The inspiration for the group's formation came from the work of South American conductors who have stressed youth musical education, including Venezuela's José Antonio Abreu. It was formed with both musical and extramusical goals in mind, by the OA Group, the Global Leaders Program, and the Music in Action Journal, with help from the New England Conservatory. The orchestra had high-powered backers from the beginning, both in musical and general political spheres. From the former world came Plácido Domingo, who served as artistic advisor, and conductor Gustavo Dudamel, who was co-conductor with music director Carlos Miguel Prieto from 2003 to 2010. Board members have included former U.S. president George W. Bush, former U.S. secretary of state Madeleine Albright, and former Mexican president Vicente Fox Quesada. The players represent more than 25 countries in the Western hemisphere. They are chosen by audition; each year some 6,000 players hope to be chosen for open seats in the 80-member group, for a term of one year. Those accepted participate in an international residency and tour. Alumni have gone on to fill chairs in top orchestras all over the world, including the Mariinsky Theater, London Symphony Orchestra, and Cleveland Orchestra. The Orchestra of the Americas has spawned associated youth orchestras in Haiti, Jamaica, Belize, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, and Honduras. The main orchestra has performed more than 400 concerts around the Western hemisphere and the world. Among its various recordings is 2019's Copland & Chávez: Pan-American Reflections, released on Scotland's Linn label.
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