Musicians from 12 Countries Unite in Youth Orchestra Concert

Published on September 12, 2023

Event celebrates the 33rd Annual International Youth Orchestra Darmstadt's program.

SAN ANTONIO (September 12, 2023) – The City of San Antonio is excited to partner with our Sister City, Darmstadt, Germany in the production of the 33rd Annual International Youth Orchestra Darmstadt program. This year's event, Bridging Cultures – International Youth Orchestra, will be held in conjunction with Youth Orchestras of San Antonio (YOSA) on September 13, from 7 - 8:30 p.m., at the St. Phillips College - Watson Fine Arts Center and will be free and open to the public.

"We are delighted to work with our Sister City of Darmstadt, Germany to host the International Youth Orchestra Darmstadt in San Antonio," said Mayor Ron Nirenberg. "Music is a language that knows no boundaries and we know these young musicians from 12 different countries will connect and communicate enthusiastically with each other and with their local host families. We are grateful to our local partners, Youth Orchestras of San Antonio, Students of Service, and St. Philip's College for their support in building bridges and promoting cultural diplomacy."

Cultural exchange is a channel to enhance global relationships at a profound level. This youth concert will act as a platform for the local nonprofits Youth Orchestras of San Antonio (YOSA) and Students of Service (SOS) to support citizen exchange and relationship building between cities. YOSA musicians will perform at the concert and SOS is coordinating host families and a rich immersive local experience during the visitors' stay. 

"Transnational encounters between young people are gaining in importance in a time of international crises," said Darmstadt, Germany's Lord Mayor Mr. Hanno Benz. "Exchanges and shared experiences such as the Darmstadt International Youth Orchestra have a lasting impact on young people's view of the world. I am pleased and grateful that, thanks to the generous invitation to San Antonio, the young people can broaden their view beyond the European continent to the USA and can experience for themselves the international cohesion that ensures peace.

I would therefore like to express my deepest thankfulness to the Mayor of the City of San Antonio, Ron Nirenberg, and his extremely committed team, as well as to all those involved. They all make incredible efforts in implementing this wonderful project. For sure, they will produce memories for a lifetime."

One of San Antonio's most active and dynamic partnerships, the Darmstadt Sister City relationship has been a fruitful one with youth programming, arts and cultural exchange, chef visits, student outreach, as well as economic and research partnerships. 

In addition to German and San Antonio youth, participating musicians also come from Latvia, Switzerland, Spain, Poland, England, Hungary, Norway, the Netherlands, France, and Ukraine. This collaboration highlights San Antonio's support for international relations and underscores how engagements like these can build and maintain global bonds for the next generation

For more information about Bridging Cultures-International Youth Orchestra Concert, a celebration of the 33rd Annual International Youth Orchestra Darmstadt's program, please contact YOSA at 210-737-0097 or info@yosa.org.