Kyle Armbrust was the viola soloist in a Juilliard Orchestra concert conducted by Kurt Masur in Avery Fisher Hall. Photo by Peter Schaaf
Juilliard's main performing orchestral ensembles — the Juilliard Orchestra, Theater Orchestra, and the New Juilliard Ensemble (which specializes in the performance
of new works) — give more than 30 concerts each season at Lincoln
Center in the Peter Jay Sharp Theater, Alice Tully Hall and Avery Fisher Hall,
as well as in Carnegie Hall and other venues around New York City. Participation
in these ensembles provides a solid foundation for instrumentalists hoping
to join professional orchestras. In fact, numerous Juilliard alumni have
become first-chair players and section members in orchestras in both the
United States and abroad. More than 15 percent of the musicians in America's
seven major orchestras have studied at Juilliard; for the constituent
orchestras within Lincoln Center, that number increases to more than 50
percent.
In addition to performances led by James DePreist, the director
of conducting and orchestral studies, Juilliard ensembles are directed frequently by
guest conductors including distinguished musicians such as Marin Alsop, Dennis Russell
Davies, Charles Dutoit, JoAnn Falletta, Jahja Ling, Kurt
Masur, Zubin Mehta, Mstislav Rostropovich, Gerard
Schwarz, Leonard Slatkin, Robert Spano, and Hugh Wolff. Outstanding
conductors such as Pierre Boulez, Sir Colin Davis, Sir Roger Norrington,
André Previn, the late Sir George Solti, and the late Leonard
Bernstein have lead orchestral readings with the students in the past.
Following is a list of Juilliard's various orchestral ensemble. Click on the name to find out more.