The Orchestra of the Americas & Penderecki Youth Orchestra
Krzysztof Penderecki: Chaconne from the Polish Requiem
Johannes Brahms: Symphony No. 3 in F Major, Op. 90
Silvestre Revueltas: La noche de los mayas
Gabriela Ortiz: Ántropolis
The Orchestra of the Americas & Penderecki Youth Orchestra
Carlos Miguel Prieto | Conductor
A co-production of the Orchestra of the Americas Group, the OAcademy, and the Krzysztof Penderecki European Center for Music
The Orchestra of the Americas Group was founded in 2002 with the vision that talent knows no boundaries, to discover and nurture exceptionally gifted creatives from overlooked and disadvantaged regions of the Western Hemisphere and beyond. The flagship ensemble of OA, the Orchestra of the Americas, brings together the best emerging talents from over 30 countries each year, trains them, and promotes them. The Orchestra of the Americas Group is the driving force behind the Global Leaders Institute, which offers the world’s first MBA in Arts Innovation, as well as the global music conservatory OAcademy and a series of other innovative initiatives at the intersection of arts, education, and social impact.
The OAcademy is reinventing the music conservatory by providing talented musicians worldwide with access to world-class education that meets the challenges and opportunities of our time. The Oacademy Artist Diploma offers graduate-level training by active artists and industry experts using flexible, technology-enabled learning methods. The program combines performance training and repertoire studies with courses in performance science, artistic leadership, and pedagogical arts, empowering graduates to win auditions, lead artistic projects, and contribute to positive changes in their ensembles and organizations. The learning journey combines an immersive online curriculum with in-person events around the world. The fellows leverage the power of peer learning and transcend geographic boundaries by receiving direct instruction from some of the world’s finest ensembles, such as the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra or the MET Opera, and participating in collaborative projects with peers and faculty from diverse cultures and contexts.
Music Director: Carlos Miguel Prieto
The Penderecki Youth Orchestra is a remarkable string ensemble established and active under the auspices of the Krzysztof Penderecki European Centre for Music in Lusławice. The PYO community unites the best young Polish musicians—students or graduates from the best instrumental classes in Poland and throughout Europe. Many of them are recipients of international awards or have already performed with leading orchestras across the continent.
As the center in Lusławice has been continuously growing since 2013, the concept of the Penderecki Youth Orchestra has gained momentum and reached its final form in 2024. The orchestra, founded based on a nomination system and complemented by an open call, made its debut under the baton of Yamen Saadi, concertmaster of the Vienna Philharmonic.
The Penderecki Youth Orchestra stands out for its exceptional artistic achievements, embodying passion and the joy of making music together with friends and has now realized its full potential. Following its initial successes, the PYO comes together again to begin a new phase of its increasing activities on the international stage.
The Penderecki Youth Orchestra embodies the essence of the idea behind the establishment and mission of the Krzysztof Penderecki European Centre for Music in Lusławice. At its core are young musicians: extraordinary talents who define the potential of an entire generation—often connected to Lusławice through a long history of educational and concert programs. Admission to the PYO is a recognition of outstanding instrumental skills and a distinct musical personality. At the same time, it is an invitation into a community that embodies everything Lusławice has to offer the young generation of musicians: a broad artistic horizon, space for mutual inspiration, the shared pursuit of the highest musical quality—alongside joy and fulfillment.
The Mexican conductor Carlos Miguel Prieto, known for his charisma and expressive interpretations, and a GRAMMY Award winner, has established himself not only as one of the key figures in the world of orchestras but also as an influential educator, cultural pioneer, and advocate for new music.
Highlights of his career include engagements with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the NDR Elbphilharmonie, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Cleveland Orchestra, the Toronto Symphony, the San Francisco Symphony, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Spanish National Orchestra, and many others, as well as a successful BBC Proms debut at the Royal Albert Hall.
Prieto was appointed Music Director of the North Carolina Symphony in 2023 and has served as Music Director of the Orquesta Sinfónica de Minería since 2008, with which he received a Latin-GRAMMY nomination for Best Classical Album. From 2007 to 2022, Prieto was Music Director of the Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de México, the country's leading ensemble, significantly raising the orchestra's level. From 2006 to 2023, he was also Music Director of the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, contributing to the cultural renewal of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.
As an advocate for music education, Prieto has conducted the Youth Orchestra of the Americas since its founding. Along with Gustavo Dudamel, Prieto served as the chief conductor of the orchestra from 2001 to 2011 before being appointed Music Director. In 2018, he conducted the orchestra on a tour through European summer festivals, including performances at the Rheingau and Edinburgh Festivals as well as in the Hamburg Elbphilharmonie. He also regularly collaborates with the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain and NYO2 in New York.
Prieto is known for his commitment to new and lesser-known Latin American and Afro-American music. He has conducted over 100 world premieres of works by Mexican and American composers, many of which he has commissioned. Prieto was named Conductor of the Year 2019 by Musical America. A graduate of Princeton and Harvard Universities, Prieto studied conducting with Jorge Mester, Enrique Diemecke, Charles Bruck, and Michael Jinbo.
Catering starts at 6:30 PM
Hallo, ich bin Maya.
