HOW TO GO
What: Springfield Youth Orchestras and Children's Chorus Concert
Where: Southgate Baptist Church, 2111 S. Center Blvd., Springfield
When: 7:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 26
Cost: Free
More info: (937) 325-8100 or www.springfieldsym.org
The Springfield Symphony Youth Orchestras and the Springfield Children’s Chorus will offer a free concert Monday night at Southgate Baptist Church.
The orchestras and chorus feature more than 150 musicians and vocalists in grades 2 to 12 from 45 schools over a seven county area, said Robyn Zimman, director of operations and education for the Springfield Symphony Orchestra.
The Youth Symphony, under the direction of Ed Zunic, features kids in grades 6 to 12. The Youth Chamber Orchestra, under the direction of Lori Wright, is composed of children in grades 2 to 12, and the Youth String Ensemble under the direction of Janet Fu. They will perform “Russian Sailors Dance” from the ballet “The Red Poppy” by Reinhold Glière. “It’s a lively work and will showcase the strings,” said Zimman. They will also play “Variations on a Shaker Melody” by Aaron Copland. This piece was written for the ballet “Appalachian Spring,” and Zimman describes it as “a beautiful piece that showcases our woodwinds. It’s a poignant arrangement of ‘The Gift To Be Simple’ melody.” The concert will also feature performances by the percussion ensemble and the woodwind trio.
The concert will also feature the debut of the newly reformed Springfield Children’s Chorus. Chorus members are in grades 3 to 8, and will be performing an arrangement of “Danny Boy,” a spiritual called “Hand Me Down My Silver Trumpet,” and a Latin piece called “Gloria Deo!”
“This year we revived the Children’s Chorus,” said Zimman. “The Ohio Lyric Theatre used to run the choir, but they folded two years ago. So we picked it up. We are mindful of its history, and for us it’s a new adventure. We’re excited about offering a vocal opportunity as well as an instrumental one. It really rounds out our offering for area youth in a very nice way.”
The youth symphony was founded in 1959 and gives students the opportunity to learn from professional musicians. “The majority of the students, 75 percent, are from Clark County,” said Zimman. The remaining students from from Logan, Champaign, Greene, Montgomery, Shelby, Miami, Warren, Hamilton and Franklin counties. One reason the students come from such a distance is that all the rehearsals are on one night a week, which makes it easy for families, Zimman said. “But we also offer a number of different opportunities for students, like small ensembles for brass and percussion, and string quartets, that other youth orchestras don’t offer.”
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