The Children's Orchestra Society (COS) is a

non-profit organization A nonprofit organization (NPO), also known as a nonbusiness entity, nonprofit institution, not-for-profit organization, or simply a nonprofit, is a non-governmental (private) legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public, or so ...

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

founded by Dr. Hiao Tsiun Ma for musically talented children and teens.''About Us'', The Children's Orchestra Society, ChildrensOrch.org, 2007
, retrieved on: July 7, 2007

Purpose

Founded in 1962, the organization is dedicated to teaching children and to presenting young musicians to well-established artists through orchestra and chamber music presentations. It is under the leadership of executive director Dr. Yeou-Cheng Ma and music director Michael Dadap since 1984. Students range from those in early childhood through high school graduates. COS grew from 18 members to more than 200 student members. It is composed of four orchestras, a chamber music department, musicianship classes, and offers private lessons in piano, guitar, and all orchestral instruments. Its advanced orchestra, the ''Young Symphonic Ensemble'', has presented concerts at

Lincoln Center Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts (also simply known as Lincoln Center) is a complex of buildings in the Lincoln Square neighborhood on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. It has thirty indoor and outdoor facilities and is host to 5 ...

Alice Tully Hall Alice Tully Hall is a concert hall at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City. The hall is named for Alice Tully, a New York performer and Philanthropy, philanthropist whose donations assis ...

annually since the establishment of the Discovery Concert Series in 1994. Some of COS's past guest artists include:

Emanuel Ax Emanuel "Manny" Ax (born June 8, 1949) is a Grammy Award-winning American classical pianist. He is known for his chamber music collaborations with cellist Yo-Yo Ma and violinists Isaac Stern and Young Uck Kim, as well as his piano recitals and p ...

Sarah Chang Sarah Chang (; born Young Joo Chang; December 10, 1980) is a Korean American classical violinist. Recognized as a child prodigy, she first played as a soloist with the New York Philharmonic and the Philadelphia Orchestra in 1989. She enrolled ...

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Cecile Licad Cecile Buencamino Licad (born 11 May 1961) is a Filipina classical pianist. She was born in Manila. Awards * In 1981 Licad received the Leventritt Competition Gold Medal. * Her recording of Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 2 and Saint-Saëns' Piano C ...

Yo-Yo Ma Yo-Yo Ma (born October 7, 1955) is a French-born American Cello, cellist. Born to Chinese people, Chinese parents in Paris, he was regarded as a child prodigy there and began to study the cello with his father at age four. At the age of seven, ...

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David Shifrin David Shifrin (born January 2, 1950) is an American classical clarinetist and artistic director. Biography David Shifrin received early musical training at the Interlochen Center for the Arts in 1963. He attended the Music Academy of the West sum ...

, and Cho-Liang Lin. The ''Young Symphonic Ensemble'' (YSE) had also toured in numerous cities in

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, the

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, and the

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, including performances in

Scotland Scotland is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It contains nearly one-third of the United Kingdom's land area, consisting of the northern part of the island of Great Britain and more than 790 adjac ...

, the

Philippines The Philippines, officially the Republic of the Philippines, is an Archipelagic state, archipelagic country in Southeast Asia. Located in the western Pacific Ocean, it consists of List of islands of the Philippines, 7,641 islands, with a tot ...

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, and

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. COS members perform in orchestral and chamber music concerts. In 2007, COS made its

Carnegie Hall Carnegie Hall ( ) is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. It is at 881 Seventh Avenue (Manhattan), Seventh Avenue, occupying the east side of Seventh Avenue between 56th Street (Manhattan), 56th and 57th Street (Manhattan), 57t ...

Debut with guest artists

and Sharon Robinson. The organization strives to involve members with their communities through performances for civic and cultural groups. ''

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'' has reviewed several of its performances.The Children's Orchestra Society, Profile, ChildrensOrch.org, 2007
, retrieved on: July 8, 2007

Mission and philosophy

In addition to being a non-profit and an educationally-inclined organization for children, the Children's Orchestra Society also has the mission to cultivate and nurture children.Mission and Philosophy, The Children's Orchestra Society, ChildrensOrch.org, 2007
, retrieved on: July 8, 2007

Membership

The Children's Orchestra Society is committed to keeping its programs accessible to the broadest range of families. Acceptance to COS is based on auditions. The audition process is very thorough. The organization accepts students of various levels and offers a wide range of programs suitable for students from beginners to the most gifted. Membership fees are kept below the actual costs of the organization's operation, and scholarships are available for exceptional young musicians who require financial assistance.

References

Specific

General

Source of the full name of The Children's Orchestra founder: Dr. Hiao Tsiun Ma, ''Maestro Dadap, (Music Director of The Children's Orchestra) Yearns for the Kundiman'', Life & Music & the Filipino, Philippine News and PhilippineNews.com, December 6, 2005
retrieved on: July 7, 2007

External links

"Children's Orchestra Society website"
{{DEFAULTSORT:Childrens Orchestra Society 1962 establishments in New York City Music education in the United States Music organizations based in the United States Non-profit organizations based in New York City Arts organizations established in 1962 American youth orchestras Orchestras based in New York City