Not your dad’s youth orchestra

My name is Adam and I am a member of the Allegro Youth Orchestra. I would like to get the word out about how amazing this orchestra is.

I know when people hear “orchestra,” they think Mozart, Bach, and Beethoven, but that’s not what Allegro is about. Allegro is about energy! It’s about finding new ways to bring stringed instruments to life.

Thanks to the determination of our director, Viktor Prizgintas, we have played rock, pop, Broadway, and folk music. We have had the honor of playing with the amazing group Barrage and folk singer Tao Rodriguez-Seeger. We recently made five videos, posted to You Tube with a great duo, The Rhodes, and now we’ll be working with Jermaine Paul. Jermaine is currently a contestant on NBC’s “The Voice” and has worked as a backup singer for Alicia Keys. This is an amazing opportunity for all of the Allegro members.

I am thankful for Mr. Prizgintas and for this orchestra. We could use the support of our community to keep opportunities like this coming. Please check out our You Tube videos and let us know what you think.

It’s time to think of “orchestra” as more than Beethoven! It time to think of “orchestra” as energy! It’s time to think Allegro!

Adam Quinones Monroe Editor’s note: Here are links to the videos featuring the Allegro Youth Orchestra playing with The Rhodes:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwjfY1tJSog&feature=related Just Like Suicide

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95MwAwjqGRs&feature=related The Way We Were

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUKM6Sj6WF8&feature=related Rainmaker

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VMUDO4gtec Sweet Shady Lady

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwJXlBm3xeM Where Are You