Newsroom
Learn about the 2024 Concerto Competition winners!
DYAO is proud to announce we have been chosen as the 2023 Women's Philharmonic Advocacy's Performance Grant Winner in the Youth Ensemble Category which included a $5,000 prize!
DYAO is hosting Edward W. Hardy at the upcoming Harmonies of History concert as a guest artist. Read about Hardy below before he takes the stage alongside the Conservatory Orchestra!
What is your connection to classical music? Since I was a little kid, I loved classical music, especially Chopin, who was my dad's favorite composer, and as a young cinefile I fell in love with Amadeus and Mozart in general. Given my cultural background, I wanted to find Spanish and Latin American composers, and seeing how those composers adapted European musicality to indigenous and African music traditions inspired me as a writer, to take from various sources to create something new and unique to my own voice. My oldest child studies Music Education at the University of Northern Colorado, and his love for classical music made me an even bigger fan. Classical music is the basis of all of our modern music, and to understand it is to see the root of your favorite modern musician's inspiration.
Do you have a favorite composer or musical artist? My top five would be Joaquín Rodrigo, Duke Ellington, John Coltrane, Ennio Morricone, and Frederic Chopin.
What is your favorite song or musical piece? Sketches of Spain by Miles Davis, which is an extended version of Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez. His version of Concierto is breathtaking and is Miles at his finest. Coltrane's A Love Supreme is a close second and is like comfort food for me.
What are you most excited for in your new role with DYAO? Getting to engage with our members and community, as well as expanding opportunities for our musicians. I am excited to help DYAO grow and evolve under Kelly's leadership.
Tell us something fun about yourself! When I was in Japan in 2013, I was at a Buddhist temple complex and stumbled upon a group of monks making rice dough using a large wooden mallet. Me and my group asked what was going on, and it turned out these monks were doing a fundraiser for the temple by selling rice cakes (which are dipped in various sauces). We asked if we could buy some to contribute and were instead invited to help in making the dough for a free meal. So me and two of the guys took turns with that mallet and helped make our rice cakes! They were the nicest people and the cakes were delicious.
Please join DYAO in congratulating two outstanding young artists who have been chosen to perform their concertos at the BEETHOVEN'S EROICA concert on November 18 and 19, 2023! Josh Rascon, flute, and Lily Dinsmore, flute, will each take to the stage in what will be a musical memory to last a lifetime. Read more about these two incredible musicians!
DYAO appears on Denver's Mile High Living to kick off the 2023 YAO Tour!
Check out this feature on DYAO's new Music Director, Wilbur Lin, in the Denver Gazette!
DYAO & Colorado Symphony Partner to find new Conductor!
Article by DYAO alum and current Board Member Dustin Pitney publishd on ColoradoBiz.com
Please join DYAO in celebrating our TWO winners of the YAO Concerto Competition, AJ Hudson and Rhianna Lingle!
Learn more about this internship!
Please join us in congratulating Luciana Lee-Chang on her well deserved win!
Our newest String Ensemble Concerto Winner is first year DYAO member Leonardo Kim!
The Denver Young Artists Orchestra (DYAO) and Colorado Conservatory of Dance (CCD) have embarked upon a special collaboration to bring CCD's acclaimed anti-bullying program to area elementary schools with live performance music composed by Florence Price, noted as the first African-American woman to be recognized as a major symphonic composer. Adapted from the award-winning children’s book, "My Secret Bully" by Trudy Ludwig, CCD's ballet empowers youth to go beyond bystander by reinforcing safe, effective, and caring behaviors.
DYAO is pleased to partner with Marczyk Fine Foods to help you with your holiday entertaining needs and support your favorite youth orchestra as well!
Meet composer Jessica Mays whose piece, "Anthem for Go," will be premiered by the Conservatory Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Joel Schut in our upcoming Epic Themes concert.
Colorado Symphony violinist Claude Sim will be featured in DYAO's upcoming Epic Themes.
Oboist Laura Lambrech is this season's YAO Wind Concerto Competition Winner.
Yumi Hwang-Williams is the concertmaster for the Colorado Symphony and will be the featured guest artist in YAO's upcoming Art & Poetry: East Meets West.
DYAO opens season with Art & Poetry: East Meets West, featuring the Young Artists Orchestra and Colorado Symphony Concertmaster Yumi Hwang-Williams.
Tori Rognerud is a flutist with the Young Artists Orchestra and a member of the Class of 2021!
Annabella Brotherston is a trumpet player with the Young Artists Orchestra and a member of the Class of 2021!
Kristen Isaly is a flutist with YAO and a member of the Class of 2021!
Bryce Medlyn is a Senior from Weld County and member of the Class of 2021!
Yana Batazhan is a Senior from Jefferson County and a member of the Class of 2021!
Caytlin Sylvester is a senior from Arapahoe County and a member of the Class of 2021!
Sophie Urban is a Senior from El Paso County and a member of the Class of 2021!
Jessie Zimmermann is a Senior from El Paso County and a member of the Class of 2021!
Anthony Elliott has garnered critical acclaim for his performances as a concert cellist, conductor, and soloist. Mr. Elliott is a featured soloist in YAO's upcoming Musical Monuments.
Alex LaMotte is a Senior from Douglas County and a member of the Class of 2021!
Adalaide Graham is a senior in Jefferson County and a member of the Class of 2021!
Jack Bratten is a violist with the Conservatory Orchestra and a member of the Class of 2021!
The Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Youth Ensemble is collaborating with DYAO's String Ensemble in our upcoming To Bloom Again.
Kevin Chen is a clarinetist with the Conservatory Orchestra and a member of the Class of 2021!
Jherrard M. Hardeman is a composer and conductor from Detroit, Michigan. Hardeman is the first composer to premier a piece through the "Hear the Future: A New Works Initiative." He currently studies Orchestral Conducting with David Robertson at The Juilliard School in NYC.
Michael Young is a violinist with YAO and a member of the graduating Class of 2021!
Emily Rowe is a violist with Conservatory Orchestra and a member of the graduating Class of 2021!
Lauren O'Connor is an oboist from the Young Artists Orchestra and a member of the graduating class of 2021!
