In July, about 60 students will take a major leap from local music venues to the world stage during a 10-day, whirlwind tour of Vienna, Prague and Budapest as musical goodwill representatives of the Alamo City. They will be accompanied by 30 staff and parents. “Starting in the mid-’80s, YOSA wanted to look at being ambassadors of our community overseas,” Henson said. “Now our students tour internationally every two years.” In addition to supporting the development of young musicians, the nonprofit impacts the community as well by offering a number of concerts each year. Many are free or low cost. For instance, one of its newer concert series that has quickly grown in popularity is the “Live Series,” in which local rock bands are invited to per form with the 75-piece YOSA Philharmonic. In March, they performed the Beatles’ “Abbey Road.” “It bridges the gap between the classical world and the rock world,” Henson said.
On May 22, YOSA presents the free “YOSApalooza” at the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts. All eight of its orchestras will take turns per forming on stage. The event has become so popular that it is simulcast on a big screen along the River Walk plaza outside the Tobin. YOSA has evolved since officially becoming Youth Orchestras of San Antonio in 1977, beginning in 1949 as the San Antonio Youth Symphony, Henson said. One of the most notable milestones is the expanding number of students who now make up the organization. The group has grown from 218 in 2008 to its current size of 1,800. Since 2009, Troy Peters has served as YOSA music director, instilling a level of musical excellence in his young charges and driving them to greater heights with the wave of his baton. Peters has guest conducted several orchestras, including the Oregon Symphony, San Antonio Symphony, Vermont Symphony Orchestra and Vermont Mozart Festival. “ Troy Peters is by far the greatest musical mentor May/June 2016 | On The Town 29