ISO

Programs

ISO in the City

In 2009 the InterSchool Orchestras of New York (ISO) proudly celebrates its 38-year history of offering a multi-faceted music education program, committed to providing the finest quality musical ensemble experience for young people in New York City. The ISO has demonstrated its commitment to excellence in its ensembles, performances, and programs designed to meet the needs of students of all ages and abilities. Our orchestras are comprised of more than 300 students that truly reflect the face of New York City, representing a multitude of ethnic, cultural and economic backgrounds.

  • The core of ISO is its orchestra program, consisting of five graded orchestras and chamber music ensembles. These young musicians rise to the challenge and exceed the high musical expectations held forth by their professional conductors while supported by their instrumental coaches. The program is enriched each year with coaching sessions by members of the London Symphony Orchestra and New York Philharmonic, and a concerto competition.
  • With its scholarship and sliding-scale tuition programs, ISO provides more than $145,000 each year in financial aid, ensuring accessibility for all who wish to explore the excitement of ensemble playing. All players in the top orchestra and symphonic band are on full scholarship to guarantee there are no financial barriers to a student's ability to participate.
  • ISO ensembles perform more than thirty concerts each year in major venues such as Lincoln Center, community centers, nursing homes and churches throughout the City, reaching an audience each year of more than 7,000. Free concerts in city schools performed by ISO ensembles introduce more than 1,000 students each year in traditionally under-served communities to the excitement of ensemble music.  This is the only program in New York City where students see children their own age performing orchestral music.
  • ISO offers totally free of charge several programs for City schools including: consultation to help schools start or expand their own instrumental music programs; in-school assembly concerts introducing the orchestra and its instruments to children who may never have heard one; repair of school-owned instruments for ongoing music programs, loaning of instruments to students.
  • The Teaching Intern Program (TIP) enables older ISO players to become “musical tutors” for beginning public school music students.  Free weekly lessons give these beginners their first instrumental experiences, eventually leading to a place in the ISO beginning orchestras.
  • Endangered Instrument Program – Lessons are subsidized to encourage students to play less popular instruments being sought by orchestras: oboe, bassoon, double bass, viola and French horn.  Proficiency on these instruments enhances a student’s high school and college prospects.
  • Subsidized Music Lessons - ISO subsidizes individual lessons for low-income students enabling them to progress through the orchestra program. Lessons begin in September, and are weekly through June. More advanced students continue lessons through the summer.
  • In celebration of our 35th anniversary year, ISO expanded its partnership programs to include a new program called In Concert.  We are extremely excited about this new program that is designed to lessen the gap between those students who have traditionally had access to music education and those who have not. The In Concert program, building on existing ISO partnership programs, is an intensive musical collaboration with two NYC public schools.  It is designed to provide a continuum that begins when a student hears a group of young musicians in concert and a musical spark is lit, leading to the creation of a new music student and opening up a lifetime of musical achievement and enjoyment.
  • ISO is beginning a collaboration with the New York Housing Authority to bring music lessons to children who live in public housing, granting scholarships for these students to play in ISO ensembles.
  • ISO was awarded the 2004 Bank of America Award for Excellence in Orchestra Education, and was inducted into the Channel 13 Community Hall of Fame in 2006.

School Programs

ISO's public school partnership program works with public schools that lack a formal music education program or that seek help with an ongoing instrumental program, providing them with assembly programs, instrument introductions, some instrument repair, and advice on music instruction, curriculum and staffing. Additionally, some independent schools in the metropolitan area support ISO and pay a modest fee for membership. They qualify for inclusion in the assembly schedule and receive reduced tuition for their students. Presented by the four training orchestras and the Symphonic Band, school assembly concerts are opportunities for ISO's ensembles to perform for groups of students their own age, many of whom have not previously been exposed to Classical music. These programs are provided free of charge to area schools. If your school would like to host an ISO assembly program, please contact Nora Gibson at (212) 410-0370.

Instrument Introduction Days

Children who would like to play an instrument, but do not know which to choose can hear and try several instruments at our Instrument Introduction Days. Musicians and ISO’s professional coaches will demonstrate the instruments that comprise a symphony orchestra. There will be plenty of extra instruments on hand to allow the children to try for themselves and discover which they most enjoy. This is a free event.
For further information, please call ISO at (212) 410-0370.

Instruments

Young musicians who play in ISO ensembles should have their own instruments. Some string, wind, and brass instruments are available for scholarship students and to those whose instruments are being repaired. The instruments available on loan from ISO include:

  • Violins: full size, 3/4 size, 1/2 size
  • Violas: various sizes
  • Cellos: full size, 3/4 size, 1/2 size, 1/4 size
  • Basses available for use at rehearsal locations
  • 2 flutes, 1 oboe, an A-clarinet, 1 bassoon, 1 French horn

Donations of string, woodwind, brass and percussion instruments in good condition are welcome, and tax deductible.

Instrumental Study Scholarships

Each year a number of young ISO musicians are selected to receive partial scholarships for study of viola, double bass, oboe, bassoon, French horn and trombone.  There are special scholarships for instrumental study for forty students at schools in the Julia Richman Education Complex.

Free Community Concerts

Each of ISO's ensembles performs several concerts each year at community venues: senior centers, hospitals, neighborhood centers, parks. These concerts are free and open to the public. For details about upcoming community concerts, please see the calendar of events.