PREVIEW: RISE Up with Empire State Youth Orchestra
10/25/25 @ Proctor’s Theatre, Schenectady
“Our theme, ‘Rise,’ is about passion, energy, and transformation—within a phrase, across a program, and in a community.”
Empire State Youth Orchestra, a non-profit that empowers over 600 young musicians in or around the Capital Region through music, opens its 2025-2026 Season of RISE on Saturday, October 25th at Proctor’s Theater in Schenectady.
For their first show of the season, Empire State Youth Orchestra is pulling out all of the stops by bringing together their Symphony Orchestra and Repertory Orchestra with a powerhouse performance of Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4, Viet Cuong’s Re(New)al (a salute to renewable energy featuring four of ESYO’s percussionists as soloists) and, heartwarmingly, will perform the world premiere of ESYO-alumni-turned-composer, Jacob Fanto’s, latest orchestral piece, “Up We Go!”
About this, Fanto said, “I’m thrilled and incredibly grateful to have the ESYO Symphony Orchestra premiere my latest orchestral piece, ‘Up We Go!’ which serves in many ways as a dedication to this inspiring organization, its many talented students and alumni, and all of its directors.”
Etienne Abelin, ESYO Music Director, speaks to the fit of these pieces, stating “Our theme, ‘Rise,’ is about passion, energy, and transformation—within a phrase, across a program, and in a community. Jacob’s premiere sparks the journey, and Tchaikovsky’s Fourth shows how music can triumph over fate.”
ESYO, whose credentials include performances at Carnegie Hall, Tanglewood’s Ozawa Hall, and Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, are also celebrating the tenth anniversary of CHIME, their tuition-free after school program in Schenectady, for which they are currently fundraising for a permanent, acoustically sound building. By going to see ESYO live, you will not only be supporting an amazing cause, but you’ll be impressed by the musical prowess of these students.
Ignition: Rising Through Sound will be performed by ESYO Symphony Orchestra & Repertory Orchestra this Saturday October 25th at 3:00 PM at Proctor’s Theatre.
More information and tickets can be found on ESYO’s website: https://esyo.org/concerts/symphony-orchestra-and-repertory-orchestra-at-proctors-theatre/ as well as Proctor’s website: https://www.atproctors.org/event/ignition-rising-through-sound/