You are welcome to attend this concert from a world renowned orchestra.

Voluntary donation for program to assist AIDS orphans in Southern Africa.

The New England Youth Ensemble founded in 1970 by its director Dr. Virginia-Gene Rittenhouse is a group of serious young musicians dedicated to the cause of spreading God’s message of love and hope through the international language of music.

Located on the campus of Columbia Union College in Takoma Park, MD, USA, its members come from many different countries, including Russia, Mexico, Australia, India, South Africa, and the Philippines as well as the United States and Canada.

From its modest beginnings in her living room with four violins and a cello, the Ensemble has developed into a 45-piece youth chamber orchestra that has now toured extensively throughout the United States, Europe, and the former Soviet Union, Australia, South Africa, China, the Far East and the Middle East. Performances have been in such famous cathedrals as the Dom Cathedral, Salzburg; St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Vienna; Washington National Cathedral, Washington D.C; Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris; and the Church of St. Martin-in-the-fields, London. In addition, the Ensemble has performed for the Musical Society of Philadelphia, at the International Youth Music Festival in Vienna, on National television from Crystal Cathedral in Los Angeles, and under management of the Community-Concert Division of Columbia Artists, New York.

In 1988 the Ensemble was first invited to perform at Carnegie Hall under the auspices of Mid-America Productions. Such has been the success of these performances that this season will mark the 100th concert the Ensemble has played in the prestigious hall-many of these under the world-renowned conductor-composer Dr. John Rutter of London