Su Min Pyo did not expect to be accepted into one of Carnegie Hall’s prestigious youth orchestras, so it was a nice surprise when she learned she would be part of the highly competitive program.
“This is an amazing opportunity for me,” the young clarinetist said this week.
Su Min, 17, a student at Belmont High School, has been selected for NYO2, one of the famous concert venue’s three National Youth Orchestras. She is one of 89 students ages 14 to 17 selected for the 2024 roster of talented young musicians hailing from across the country. NY02 offers a free residency program at Purchase College, State University of New York, where participants work with top players from American orchestras and conservatories.
The culmination of Su Min’s efforts will be a performance at Carnegie Hall on Aug. 1, part of Carnegie Hall’s World Orchestra Week, a celebration of international youth orchestras.
The NY02 musicians next travel to Dallas for a second residency that includes a performance at the Dallas Symphony Orchestra’s Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, led by conductor Teddy Abrams. The program will include Leonard Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from “West Side Story,” Tchaikovsky’s “Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture,” Stravinsky’s “The Firebird Suite,” and the world premiere of a wind concertante by Jasmine Barnes, featuring flutist Demarre McGill, oboist Titus Underwood, clarinetist Anthony McGill, and bassoonist Andrew Brady.
“I really love music because it connects me with people from all over the world,” Su Min said. “I’m excited to play with people from across the country this summer and travel and play with a lot of other orchestras.”
Su Min started playing clarinet in fifth grade while her family was living in Texas. After a year spent in Korea, the family moved to Belmont. During the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic, she took advantage of the time to further her passion for music. She likes the clarinet for its versatility, she said.
“A clarinet can create a dark and beautiful sound for a piece that demands a dramatic sound, but it can also be light and beautiful for fun pieces. I really like that,” she said. While her repertoire has leaned on romantic pieces, Su Min said she is starting to appreciate modern works, including works by Igor Stravinsky, such as “Firebird” and “The Rite of Spring,” that require more complex musical skills.
While practicing takes up most of her time out of school, Su Min, who also plays in BHS’s marching band, said she tries to make time for other interests, such as crochet and journaling.
“It’s good to take a break from academics and clarinet playing,” she said.
As she prepares for her immersive experience this summer, Su Min said she will relish the opportunity to meet young musicians who are as passionate about their instruments as she is about hers.
“I think it is impactful to be in an environment where people are as passionate about a certain subject as you are,” she said. “It creates an atmosphere where you can focus and improve. That’s what I’m most excited about.”
As a rising senior, Su Min is starting to contemplate the future and knows that she wants music to be a part of it. She is currently planning a double major in biology and clarinet.
“I know music is something I want to continue doing for the rest of my life,” she said. “There are so many good lessons and opportunities that music can provide.”
For more information about the Carnegie Hall youth orchestras, visit carnegiehall.org/Education/Programs/National-Youth-Ensembles.
