F-M High School student joins advanced orchestra program

A Fayetteville-Manlius High School student was recently selected for a Rochester-based music school’s prestigious orchestra program.

Sophomore violinist Shreya Bhattacharya will perform with the 2022-23 Hochstein Youth Symphony Orchestra (HYSO), which is the highest-level youth orchestra in the music school’s four-tier program.

Shreya Bhattacharya holds her instrument
Fayetteville-Manlius High School sophomore violinist Shreya Bhattacharya will perform with the 2022-23 Hochstein Youth Symphony Orchestra.

To be considered for the HYSO, students must be a New York State School Music Association level six musician, which is the association’s highest achievement level, and perform in their respective school’s ensemble. An audition is also required.

Students in grades 7-12 representing 26 Western and Upstate New York schools comprise this year’s orchestra. The group performs accelerated pieces during Saturday rehearsals and will present four concerts during this school year.

The HYSO’s primary goal is to create a community of talented musicians through the rigorous study of classical symphony orchestra literature. Since 2000, the HYSO has performed in Spain, Portugal, Austria, France, Germany, Czech Republic, Italy, Switzerland and Ireland.