The Visionary Youth Orchestra (VYO) is open to musicians ages 11-18.
VYO ensemble rehearses once a week at Brooklyn Friends School and the Institute for Collaborative Education from January to June.  Please check the program site schedules posted here for details.   

CLICK HERE to apply for the Visionary Youth Orchestra

VYO Member Opportunities: 

• Express your ideas in music in collaboration with peers and mentors.

• Learn to improvise with master musicians / educators
• Learn and perform works by legends of Free Jazz! 
• Discover your own Musical Ideas and compositions 
• Free Access to prestigious events!

"The first day I joined VYO, I was surprised that I was in a room of people who truly loved music (unlike my school mates). What I love most about VYO is the loving and encouraging environment that's been created to foster and grow us as musicians and improvisers. VYO quite literally is responsible for making me a better and more comfortable soloist."
-VYO Student.

To learn more about the Visionary Youth Orchestra,
email Melanie at melanie@artsforart.org

Events (Postponed due to COVID-19)

March 7, 2020
Performance at Brooklyn Music Institute​

May 23, 2020
Vision Festival 25 Performance

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Visionary Youth Orchestra Rehearsal Schedules
(Canceled due to COVID-19)

2019-20 Teaching Artists: William Parker, Jeff Lederer, Jessica Jones, Kyoko Kitamura
​Program Director: Melanie Dyer

ICE Schedule
Wednesdays 3:00 to 4:00p.m. 
ICE 345 E. 15th St, New York, NY
Fifth Floor Music Room
​
Jan. 8, 15, 22
Feb. 5, 12, 26
Mar. 4, 11, 18, 25
Apr. 1, 8, 15, 29
May 6 & 13

Brooklyn Friends School Schedule
Tuesdays 4:30 to 6:00pm
Brooklyn Friends School, Upper Building 116 Lawrence St, Downtown Brooklyn

Jan. 28, 2020
Feb. 4, 11, 25
Mar. 3, 10, 31
Apr. 7, 14, 21, 28
May 5, 12, 19

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New York based saxophonist, clarinetist, composer and educator Jeff Lederer and tenor saxophonist, pianist and educator Jessica Jones have voluntarily led, shaped and established the Visionary Youth Orchestra  since its inception in 2010.  As Co-Directors and conductors, Jeff and Jessica shape an learning environment in which young musicians explore new concepts in improvised music as they discover their unique musical voice. 

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William Parker is a bassist/multi-instrumentalist improviser, composer, educator, and author. He studied bass with Richard Davis, Art Davis, Milt Hinton, Wilbur Ware, Jimmy Garrison, and Paul West. He has recorded over 150 albums, had countless celebrated stage appearances, and helped shaped the jazz scene for both his peers and youths. In 2013, Parker received the Doris Duke Performing Artist Award in recognition of his influence and impact on the creative jazz scene over the last 40 years.