I have a love-hate relationship with this thing we call the Internet. First off, it’s great to have virtually all the knowledge of the world at your fingertips.
However, I’m led down the Internet rabbit hole of memes, videos and questionable information several times a day. It’s the ultimate trivial pursuit.
But, sometimes the rabbit hole I’ve tumbled into delivers something surprisingly worthy.
I’ll share an absolute favorite with you. It’s a Youtube video of the Contemporary Youth Orchestra featuring former Styx lead singer Tommy Shaw.
Founded in 1995 and based in Cleveland, the Contemporary Youth Orchestra is composed of high school-age students who play contemporary music instead of the classics. Here’s how the not-for-profit orchestra is described on its Website:
“Contemporary Youth Orchestra is committed to the study and performance of exclusively contemporary and new orchestral music, with a focus on introducing students to careers in the creative arts industries.”
Anyway, the first Contemporary Youth Orchestra recording I came across features Shaw singing the Styx hit Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man). I’m mesmerized by the musical skill level of the young musicians, and by the focus and enthusiasm they put into the performance.
You can watch it below:
Shaw’s rendition of the Styx classic is also superb, helping me as listener grasp the meaning of the song that I previously only heard in passing. It’s well worth your time to watch and listen. Plus, Shaw also sings other Styx songs with the orchestra, including Blue Collar Man.
Turns out, the Contemporary Youth Orchestra has performed with dozens of well known singers and musicians, including the full Styx group, Jefferson Starship, Pat Benatar, Kenny Loggins, Jon Anderson and many others.
I had no idea that such an orchestra existed or that accomplished contemporary artists would play with them. I don’t get out much, obviously.
So I asked my friend and neighbor, Christy Fine, about the subject. Christy is a long-time orchestra teacher, now retired, in the Edmond School District.
She said it’s fairly common for high school and other orchestras to bring in and feature a well known musician in their performances. The Edmond district has hosted several such performances through the years, she said.
“It is a great way to expose kids to professional musicians,” Christy told me. “They (the featured musicians) send you the music ahead of time, then come and spend a day in rehearsal and then a big performance. We found they are great motivators for the kids.”
I’ve watched the Tommy Shaw/Contemporary Youth Orchestra performances multiple times since I found it a couple years ago. The Youtube version of Fooling Yourself has 6 million views, so it’s fairly popular.
Watch the performance of Blue Collar Man below:
Yes, Youtube can be a rabbit hole for someone browsing the Internet.
But, this time, I’m glad the trail led me to this video and to the Contemporary Youth Orchestra performances.
BONUS: Watch a promo for the Edmond Public Schools Fine Arts program here:
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