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Ernst Katz The Impossible Dream This is the story about one man's life long dedication to "Give Youth A Chance To Be Heard" and the realization of his dream - - the Jr. Philharmonic Orchestra of California. Dr. Katz proudly celebrated his orchestras 72nd anniversary at Walt Disney Concert Hall on June 3, 2009 where a capacity audience gave him a standing ovation for being the founder-conductor of one of the oldest young people's symphony orchestras in the United States. On August 11, 2009, the Maestro passed away. It was on January 22, 1937 that Ernst Katz began changing the lives of young people via classical music when he founded his symphony orchestra. For nearly three quarters of a century he dedicated himself to "Give Youth A Chance to be Heard" without accepting government subsidy, without soliciting contributions, and without charging membership or audition fees. Katz' work was unprecedented. He was selected by the Points of Light Foundation to receive the President's Community Volunteer Award. In a White House ceremony on December 13, 2002, President George W. Bush presented maestro Katz with the engraved sterling silver medallion for six and a half decades of service to young people. More than 70,000 musicians, ages 12 through 25, have participated in annual auditions and more than 10,000 have been selected for membership. Katz touched the lives of thousands of young people from diverse social, economic and ethnic backgrounds. Many of them still travel a hundred or more miles to attend weekly practice sessions. Katz provided an opportunity for them to focus their energies on the positive – away from drugs, gangs and violence – to make our nation a better, gentler and more harmonious place to live. He tought young people the importance of giving. Most performances of his Jr. Philharmonic Orchestra are volunteered with proceeds going to charitable causes. About his lifelong work, Katz said, "The Jr. Philharmonic is non commercial and is not a business. Music transcends everything. It builds hope where hope doesn't exist. It's absolutely miraculous what music has done for my young people. There's nobody else except my immediate family and my country that I love more than the orchestra."
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