NYS, Turning 50, Is Looking

For Alums

NORWALK — This year marks the 50th anniversary of Norwalk Youth Symphony (NYS).

NYS has grown from a single orchestra in 1956 to four orchestras, Lessons in School programs, and an active Chamber Music program all dedicated to bringing the beauty and changing power of music in communities and in children’s lives. Fifty years of timeless music – culminating in an alumni week-end reunion planned for November 17-18, during which those who wish to will be able to play with the current musicians.

In looking to its list of past students going back to 1956, it is striking to discover how many alumni have illustrious careers; many in the field of music, some in business. John Simon (1964) is today a composer, pianist and songwriter who tells NYS that “my dad, Lou Simon, who was one of the founders of Norwalk Symphony, its concertmaster for quite a while and its president too, was instrumental in starting the Youth Symphony. As I understand it, it had been on the minds of many on the orchestra board but, when John Masters appeared on the scene, they had someone who could actually do it. And John and my dad sat side by side in the viola section of the ‘big’ symphony until my dad passed away.”

Bob Hodge (1962) is now a lawyer in Chicago and his father was also one of the original board members of NYS. Playing with them in the original orchestra were Bob Swan (1962), now a violist with Chicago Symphony Orchestra; David Ohanian (1961), French Horn with Boston Symphony for many years and now University Professor; Dr Yenoin Guibbory (1964), professor emeritus, artist, music coach; and John Von Daler (1964), renowned violinist and composer in Denmark.

Over the years, illustrious names such as Chris Brubeck (1966), jazz artist and composer; Bärli Nugent, associate dean at Juilliard; Stephen Sametz (1971), composer, songwriter and University Chorale arts professor; John Zucker (1971), lawyer and vice president at ABC-TV;  and Molly Skardon (1971), also on the staff at Juilliard.

NYS can even claim its own sweethearts: Linda Walton (1971), violist performer and teacher, writes: “ When I was in the ninth grade, I sat principal viola on in NYS. On my left saw James Kirkwood, assistant principal cellist. Little did I know that I was sitting next to my future husband!”

NYS is inviting all its alumni to its 50th anniversary concert. Anyone who is, or knows someone who is, an alum, is asked to contact the NYS office at 203-866-4100 or register online at NorwalkYouthSymphony.org as soon as possible to receive more information about what is certain to be a fun and nostalgic weekend.