OCYS in Prague

Central Valley - Orange County Youth Symphony is an orchestra playing in Orange County New York with their base at Monroe-Woodbury High School. This orchestra was established so the most talented young musicians of Orange County can rehearse and perform great orchestral works together. In its two years of existence, OCYS performed concerts in Beijing, China in April 2010 and Prague, Czech Republic in February 2011. The most recent trip to Prague was a great success. About 38 students and their teachers Mr. Huadong Lu and Mr. Richard Regan traveled to Prague to meet young musicians from Jan Hanus Music School in Prague under Veronika Pudlakova. After just three rehearsals, they performed together at a concert in Prague’s Museum of Music. They performed Radetzky March by Johann Strauss, Carmen by George Bizet and Czech Suite by Antonin Dvorak. The concert was breathtaking musical experience for everybody in the audience and the young musicians as well. The Czech and American students formed mutual friendships and exchanged cultural experiences. They learned first-hand how music brings people together and how powerful and enlightening music is. Orange County Youth Symphony has invited the teachers and the students from Hanus Music School in Prague to come to Monroe to perform a concert together and they have accepted the invitation. OCYS musicians also had the great opportunity to visit one of the most beautiful cities in Europe and learn about its history. They came back home with new wonderful memories and are currently busy rehearsing for their next spring concert. Every summer OCYS has run a ten-day summer camp in August. For summer camp and sign-up information, please visit their website at http://ocysny.org.