At Joyous Music School, students are offered training in piano, flute, violin, cello, and composition. The school’s musical prodigies may be little, but they are doing big things and getting attention from big names.
Ellen Degeneres had 8-year-old cellist, Justin, of The Joyous String Quintet on her show two years ago, where he performed Bohemian Rhapsody and Smooth Criminal. This past April, Justin returned to TV with the rest of the Joyous Quintet to perform on NBC’s Little Big Shots. Joyous String School students have also been on Good Morning America, NBC’s The Today Show, and they even performed on PBS for President Obama and his family at the National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony.
The Joyous String Ensemble performs about 40 to 50 shows a year including their upcoming performance at Carnegie Hall this Nov. 20.
The children in the Joyous String Ensemble began playing music at around 3 years old. At age 5, they began more serious training as their gift for music became apparent.
“Initially they began playing music together for fun but then we began training them more seriously,” artistic director Julian Yu said. “They all play more than one instrument, dance, and sing and they always have fun.”
Yu is a recording artist and a composer so most of the music the ensemble plays is his own arrangement. The music they play is a mixture of both classical and pop music. At the end of the year, they will be coming out with their first album called Reflection, which will be available on iTunes.
Joyous Music School is located at 21 Jerusalem Ave., in Hicksville. For more information call 888-628-9865 or visit joyousmusicschool.org.
Sign up for our newsletter to receive the latest updates on fun events and other family activities in your area.
