Posted by Sharon Bay
 
San Diego Youth Symphony and Conservatory (SDYS) announced the arrival and the departure of 24 talented international student musicians representing 12 countries for their 13th annual International Youth Symphony (IYS) program at Casa del Prado, Balboa Park. Each year, top musicians from around the world travel to San Diego with assistance and support from Rotary District 5340's International Youth Exchange program. On July 17 the international guests began rehearsals alongside top SDYS musicians, under the direction of SDYS Music Director Jeff Edmons, who enters his 22nd season with SDYS.
 
Gary McElroy, Committee Chair of the Rotary District 5340 MusiCamp™ Youth Exchange said of the IYS program, "The objective of the Rotary Youth Exchange program is to foster world peace, international understanding and good will by extending international communication at the personal level through the exchange of high school and college age students.  I believe our partnership with SDYS as an organization is a compelling match of our missions and values, which is turning students into leaders in our communities." 
 
 
The students hailed from Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, N. Ireland, Poland, Romania, Russia and Spain.
 
The program was sponsored by several Rotary Clubs: San Diego Downtown Breakfast, the Rotary Club of Rancho Bernardo, Rancho Santa Fe, Escondido, San Diego 33, Old Mission (San Diego), Coronado and La Jolla Golden Triangle. We thank them all for their support along with the San Diego Youth Symphony for all they have contributed to making this program a success.