Personnel
Dr. Robert Sage has been Music Director of CYSO since 2014. Recently retired after 33 years as Professor of Music at Azusa Pacific University, Dr. Sage is also Music Director of the Claremont Symphony Orchestra. He has performed frequently as piano soloist with CSO for over 30 years. Dr. Sage received his Master's and Doctoral degrees in Piano Performance from the University of Southern California.
Gloria Cangahuala has been Executive Director of CYSO since 2014. An accomplished musician, she has played both piano and violin since the age of four. She is currently concertmaster of the Claremont Symphony Orchestra and has been the featured piano soloist twice with CSO. She graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a B.S. in Information Technology and a Minor in Music and holds an MBA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Pat Kuenning is the founder and director of Prelude String Ensemble. She holds a BFA in cello performance from California Institute of the Arts and a California Teaching Credential in Music Education from Cal State University, Northridge. She is currently a String Specialist and Orchestra Conductor for the Elementary Instrumental Music Program offered through the Claremont Unified School District. She is on the faculty of the Claremont Community School of Music and is a cellist with the Claremont Symphony Orchestra.
About CYSO
The Claremont Symphony Orchestra Association founded CYSO in 1983 to provide an orchestral music experience for young people in Claremont and the surrounding cities. At the time, state-wide budget cuts were forcing schools to cut or reduce services, and programs in Music and Art were among the first to be negatively affected. The CSO Board conceived CYSO as both a supplement to school music programs and as a playing opportunity for students whose schools no longer offered orchestra classes.
CYSO is composed of approximately 90 students ranging in age from sixth through 12th grade. Current members represent 46 different schools (including homeschool) across 25 communities in the Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and Riverside Counties. Communities represented include Alta Loma, Azusa, Baldwin Park, Chino, Chino Hills, Claremont, Corona, Covina, Diamond Bar, Eastvale, Fontana, Glendora, La Puente, La Verne, Loma Linda, Montclair, Ontario, Pomona, Rancho Cucamonga, Rowland Heights, San Bernardino, San Marino, Temple City, Upland, and Walnut.
CYSO performs two free concerts annually in Bridges Hall of Music on the campus of Pomona College in Claremont, California. The orchestra is led by Music Director Robert Sage and managed by Gloria Cangahuala.
CYSO is composed of approximately 90 students ranging in age from sixth through 12th grade. Current members represent 46 different schools (including homeschool) across 25 communities in the Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and Riverside Counties. Communities represented include Alta Loma, Azusa, Baldwin Park, Chino, Chino Hills, Claremont, Corona, Covina, Diamond Bar, Eastvale, Fontana, Glendora, La Puente, La Verne, Loma Linda, Montclair, Ontario, Pomona, Rancho Cucamonga, Rowland Heights, San Bernardino, San Marino, Temple City, Upland, and Walnut.
CYSO performs two free concerts annually in Bridges Hall of Music on the campus of Pomona College in Claremont, California. The orchestra is led by Music Director Robert Sage and managed by Gloria Cangahuala.
About PSE
Prelude String Ensemble (PSE) is a preparatory string orchestra ensemble working in partnership with CYSO. Established in 2014, PSE is for string students (violin, viola, cello, bass) with a minimum of one year experience who would like to gain experience playing in a mixed string ensemble, improve their sight-reading skills, and prepare for future placement with CYSO.
Since its founding, PSE has seen a number of its string members “graduate” to CYSO. The ensemble is led by Director Pat Kuenning.
Since its founding, PSE has seen a number of its string members “graduate” to CYSO. The ensemble is led by Director Pat Kuenning.
