Founded in 1969 as Training Orchestra, Inc. 
Gemini Youth Orchestras consists of a fully instrumented symphony orchestra, a string orchestra and a wind ensemble. Professional conductors complemented by a professional coaching staff present a demanding  yet supportive program that challenges students to mature and grow.

Paul Rudoff's passion for conducting, his love of working with children, and his desire to find a way for young musicians to play side by side with professionals led to the founding of Training Orchestra in 1969. The program began its life under the auspices of the Huntington Symphony. Many of the Symphony's members were coaches and their children were among the first students. The office was in Anne Sanderson's home in Huntington. 

Over the years, rehearsals and concerts have been held in locations all over Long Island: in the Huntington, Smithtown, Ronkonkoma, Jericho, Mineola, Farmingdale, East Islip, Hauppauge, and Half Hollow Hills School Districts, at St. Elizabeth's Church (Huntington), and at Friends Elementary School in Westbury. At present, our rehearsal and concert venues have been generously provided by the  Half Hollow Hills School District.

By the mid-seventies, there were separate Nassau and Suffolk orchestras, each with its own junior orchestra. In 1985, a Saturday program, the Chamber Music Workshop, was established. Many well-known artists appeared as soloists with the chamber orchestra, before it was disbanded in 1992 due to Paul Rudoff's illness. In the late eighties Training Orchestra took on a new identity, renaming the twin orchestras the Gemini Youth Orchestras. Nationally known maestro Kenneth Klein was appointed music director in 1991-92 and Gail Rinaudo became conductor of the reorganized junior orchestra, the Gemini Youth Concert Orchestra, in 1992-93. Stephen Rogers Radcliffe succeeded Kenneth Klein in 1993, serving as music director and GYS conductor until 1996. The baton passed to maestro Kimbo Ishii-Eto in the fall of 1996, to Amir Kats in 2001,   to Michael Adelson in 2003 and to Michael Canipe in 2005. Matthew Pierce, who became GYS conductor in 2006, has been named Music Director for 2007.

Gemini continued to grow. The informal wind ensemble that Michael Canipe led for many years was given a name - the Gemini Festival Winds- and made "official" in 1997. The Gemini Youth Preparatory Orchestra (now the String Orchestra) began rehearsing later that year, when Gemini took up residence at Five Towns College. The move to Half Hollow Hills took place in 2001. After a consolidation in 2004, GYO has once again expanded to four separate instrumental performing groups: The Gemini Youth Symphony, the renamed Gemini Concert Winds, the new Gemini Chamber Orchestra and the Gemini String Orchestra.

Working with professional soloists is an important part of a Gemini student's musical experience. The Gemini Youth Symphony has featured guest soloists including Stanley Drucker, Philip Smith, and Lorne Monroe of the New York Philharmonic; cellist Timothy Eddy, violinists Raymond Gniewek, Renee Jolles, pianists Cecilia Brauer, Jose Ramos-Santana, John Musto and Jeffrey Biegel, flautist Samuel Baron, and the Guild Trio. Guest conductors have included the renowned David Amram, and the returns of Maestros Radcliffe and Klein. Gemini musicians have performed all over the New York area: Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall (a return is planned for March 2, 2008) and Alice Tully Hall (the first performance for all GYO groups in a single concert at a major venue), Sony Center in Manhattan, Tilles Center, Staller Center, and the Cathedral of the Incarnation (Garden City). Summer 2007 appearances will be at the Gurwin Jewish Geriatric Center (GFW benefit), Heckscher Park and the Long Island Mozart Festival.

Gemini musicians have had the opportunity to work with the Long Island Philharmonic and Philharmonic Chorus, New York Philharmonic, Long Island Baroque Ensemble, and the Bach Aria Festival.

Many Gemini graduates have attended premier music schools and perform in orchestras and chamber ensembles here and abroad. Others choose careers in music education, or combine teaching and performance. Many former Gemini musicians continue to play- in college and community groups- while pursuing other careers. The love of music and the joy of performing and listening seem to remain with Gemini graduates no matter what career path they choose.

In a time of decreasing public support for the arts and many competing activities for students, most of the youth orchestras on Long Island have ceased operations over the past few years. GYO is one of the few remaining beacons for those talented students willing and anxious to excel. Thanks to support from Gemini families, students, and corporate and individual donors, GYO has managed not only to survive but to vigorously pursue its mission statement. Seeing the faces of our students after a successful concert provides all the motivation necessary.

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