History
The Glendale Youth Orchestra was founded in February 1989. Originally, GYO consisted of young musicians in the sixth through ninth grades only, an age range when children traditionally become busier with extracurricular activities and often begin to lose interest in studying music. The Board of Directors, however, expanded the age range in the orchestra's succeeding seasons, realizing the numerous benefits of a fuller and more formal orchestral ensemble. The GYO has since accepted high school and a limited number of junior college musicians.
Joseph Lazara, the founder and the organization's first president, is a long-time Glendale resident and practicing attorney in the city. It was his interest in providing musical and artistic opportunities for young people that led to the formation of the GYO. Lois Johnson was its first musical director. The orchestra numbered at just under 50 young musicians. Richard Rintoul joined the orchestra as Music Director for its third season, as the group moved its performance home to Glendale Adventist Academy. During this season, 199l-1992, the GYO also performed its first collaborative concert with the Oakwood Collegiate Institute Orchestra of Toronto, Ontario Canada. The GYO also hosted the visiting young musicians in their homes during their Southern California visit.
Christopher Fazzi, served as GYO Music Director beginning with the 1992-93 season and continuing through 1999-2000. Mr. Fazzi initiated a period of unprecedented growth for the orchestra, including launching an annual performance tour. GYO has performed and toured in Toronto, Canada, San Francisco, California, Phoenix, Arizona and had a chamber music retreat in Santa Barbara, California. After six years of growth in stature and quality, Mr. Fazzi and the GYO were welcomed by the City of Glendale to the Alex Theatre as its permanent performance venue in 1995, thus bringing the GYO to the forefront of musical ensembles in Glendale. Large enthusiastic audiences now fill the Alex Theatre three times a year to experience the musical excellence of the GYO.
Brad Keimach assumed the post of GYO Music Director beginning with the 2000-01 season. Mr. Keimach is a graduate of the prestigious Juilliard School and was a student of Leonard Bernstein at Tanglewood. He has also served as Music Director of the Westfield Symphony, the Musica Viva Chamber Symphony and the West Orange Collegiate Orchestra, and has appeared as guest conductor with numerous orchestras. Mr. Keimach greatly enjoys teaching young dedicated musicians such as the members of the GYO, and continues his involvement with education, currently maintaining a private studio for conducting students. He has also served on the faculty at Antioch University, Kean College, and Purchase Conservatory at S.U.N.Y.
Conductor Brad Keimach
Brad Keimach, GYO's dynamic conductor, made his Carnegie Hall debut in 1986. A graduate of New York's prestigious Juilliard School, Mr. Keimach studied conducting at Tanglewood with Leonard Bernstein, and holds an MFA from the Purchase Conservatory of the State University of New York.
He has been Music Director of the Westfield Symphony, The Musica Viva Chamber Symphony and the West Orange Collegiate Orchestra, as well as appearing as guest conductor of numerous orchestras, opera and ballet companies.
Mr. Keimach served four years as a Teaching Artist for the Lincoln Center Institute for the Arts in Education, and has taught at Kean College, Purchase Conservatory, CSUN, and Antioch University, and currently maintains a private studio for advanced conducting students. Apart from his musical activities, Mr. Keimach teaches yoga.
Under Mr. Keimach's direction, the GYO has risen to a new musical standard, with individual members making great strides in their abilities. His focus on responsibility, commitment, musicianship and ways to access and improve their personal best, has not only touched the quality of their music, but their citizenship as well. Through his charismatic teaching style, they have learned the meaning and relevance of the repertoire they play in terms of the music history and the human condition, and the pure beauty and passion of orchestral sound. Above all, he has instilled in these young musicians a new sense of pride in their own accomplishments and in their orchestra.
Our Mission
The mission of the Glendale Youth Orchestra is to provide qualified young musicians an environment in which to explore, comprehend, appreciate and develop a lasting interest in music in a quality setting.
As orchestra members,