The Youth Ensemble of New England

History

The Youth Ensemble of New England (YENE) is an outgrowth of the New England Youth Ensemble (NEYE), a youth orchestra founded in 1968 by Dr. Virginia-Gene Rittenhouse in Sterling, Massachusetts. The orchestra began in Dr. Rittenhouse's living room as a violin quartet to encourage four young violinists to practice their instrument but soon grew into a full-fledged youth orchestra that traveled worldwide to over 40 countries. Dr. Rittenhouse was a child prodigy on both the piano and the violin and was the first person awarded a doctorate in music by Peabody Conservatory (Johns Hopkins). She also was a composer and visionary who became a master teacher on both the piano and the violin. The orchestra was initially based at Atlantic Union College, in South Lancaster, Massachusetts and later moved to Washington Adventist University in Tacoma Park, Maryland, where it is still based. In addition to traveling worldwide, the orchestra played concerts throughout the United States, including over 1

Specialties

The Youth Ensemble of New England is comprised of around 35 young musicians ages 10 to 20. The orchestra rehearses at Thayer Performing Arts Center in Lancaster, Massachusetts, and plays over 30 concerts a year in local venues including schools, churches, libraries, assisted livings, and for other community organizations. They have played many concerts for charities and have a special interest in performing for children's charity organizations such as an orphanage for the children of AIDS victims in Zimbabwe, Africa, and for organizations formed to help children affected by natural disasters as well as fundraisers for music schools and various music festivals.