The Washington Young Sinfonia was a pre-professional chamber orchestra dedicated to expanding audiences and avenues for classical music-making in the heart of the nation's capital. WYS was founded in the summer of 2019 and performed until spring 2020, offering free and donation-based concerts at The New York Avenue Presbyterian Church, conducted by Matthew F. Reese. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 Pandemic brought a halt to this nascent project as concert venues shuttered and our roster scattered across the nation during the first quarantines. 

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During its first season, WYS brought together some of the finest university music students in the city (especially from Georgetown, George Washington, and American Universities), along with recent graduates, and early-career professional musicians from the Peabody Conservatory, Benjamin T. Rome School of Music at Catholic University, and the University of Maryland School of Music. WYS was proud to partner with the concert pianist Annie Jeng, the mezzo-soprano Sylvia Leith, and had further concerts planned with the pianist Carson Becke and others.

 

In response to the administrative and financial burdens of the Pandemic, the Board of Directors voted to formally dissolve the orchestra. While the Washington Young Sinfonia has ceased to operate, the Board of Directors wishes to extend its thanks to NYAPC and our generous supporters who encouraged the start of the project.

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The WYS Board of Directors was:

Matthew F. Reese, Music Director

Benjamin C. Lauer, Board Member

Emma Oechsner, Board Member

Meara O'Malley, Board Member

Jane Rabinovitz, Board Member

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Financial Declaration:
The Washington Young Sinfonia was a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) Domestic Nonprofit Corporation incorporated in the District of Columbia, EIN 84-3891807. Its tax-exempt status was awarded 22 January 2020. The orchestra was legally dissolved on 15 January 2022. Its remaining financial assets were donated to The New York Avenue Presbyterian Church in thanks for their generous support. 

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The orchestra's Articles of Dissolution (filed with the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia), and all three of the orchestra's 990-PF Returns to the IRS (2019, 2020, and 2021 [including notice of termination]) are public documents and are available for general inspection. In order to request a copy please email contact@wysinfonia.org.