Empire State Youth Orchestra Performers at CDSWOY Awards Gala

ALBANY, NY – Members of the acclaimed Empire State Youth Orchestra will perform at the Capital District Sports Women of the Year 2023 Awards Gala on Monday, August 7 at 7 p.m. at the GE Theatre at Proctors.

Tickets are now on sale for the event at the Proctors Box Office or at proctors.org. The Capital District Sports Women of the Year program (CDSWOY) honors the best and brightest female student-athletes from high schools and colleges in the Capital District of New York State. The student-athletes will be recognized for their achievements in academics, athletics, and community service.

Empire State Youth Orchestra engages more than 600 youth from across New York’s Capital Region and Western New England in the joyful pursuit of musical excellence. Guided by outstanding teaching artists, coaches and conductors, members explore their potential alongside like-minded peers in an environment that is musically daring and fun.

This year’s performers will be Julia Spretty and Peyton Roach.

“We are very pleased to have exceptional performers from the Empire State Youth Orchestra entertain our audience at the CDSWOY Awards Gala,” said Eric McDowell, President of the Capital District Sports Women of the Year organization.

“Like our student-athletes who are being honored, Julia and Peyton are talented and dedicated and have bright futures. We appreciate Dr. David Bebe for providing us with students from ESYO.”

“ESYO is thrilled to bring beautiful music to this incredible celebration!,” said Dr. Bebe. “All of the young women being highlighted, athletes and musicians, have such amazing accomplishments and impressive stories. It’s so important to have organizations like CDSWOY give our outstanding youth a well-deserved acknowledgment.”

Julia Spretty has been a clarinetist for nine years and is a graduate of Waterford-Halfmoon High School. Studying with Julie Taylor, she has been Principal Clarinet in ESYO’s Symphony Orchestra for the past three years. She earned a position in the NYSSMA AlI-State Winter Conference Symphony Orchestra, as well as the Symphonic Band on Eb clarinet. Julia also enjoys singing, playing flute, piccolo, and the alto saxophone. She played in the pit orchestra for her school’s musical on clarinet, flute, and alto sax. She also composed her very own band piece for her High School’s band to perform at their fall concert. Julia has also conducted her High School Band and has attended the Juilliard Summer Winds Program, NYSSSA (NYS Summer School of the Arts), Ithaca College Summer Music Academy, and virtual programs through the Crane School of Music. Her final season of ESYO concluded with an exceptional performance by the Symphony Orchestra at Carnegie Hall. This past April, Julie was the WMHT Radio Station’s Classical Student of the Month this past April. In the fall, she will be attending Boston Conservatory at Berklee to pursue a degree in clarinet performance. Julia will be playing Concertino in Eb Major Op. 26 by Weber. Her accompanist will be Brian Axford.

Peyton Roach is a classical violist and a visual artist from Bethlehem, New York. She recently graduated from Bethlehem Central High school with an advanced regent’s diploma. She has been in the Empire State Youth Orchestra ensembles since the sixth grade and has been the assistant principal violist for the Empire State Symphony Orchestra for the past two years. Peyton has been playing viola for 10 years, studying under her mother, Monica Roach, for the first three years of her musical education, and then with Elizabeth Moll for the remaining seven. Her biggest musical inspiration is her mother, and she hopes to teach others about the wonders of music. Her plans are earning a bachelor’s in fine arts and studying animation at music at Bennington College.