Knoxville Symphony Youth Orchestra presents spring concert May 7

KNOXVILLE -- The Knoxville Symphony Youth Orchestra Association will present their final performance of the season on Monday, May 7th, 7:00 p.m. at the Tennessee Theatre. The free concert will feature performances from all five of the orchestras in the Association: Preludium Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, Sinfonia Orchestra, Youth Chamber Orchestra and the Youth Orchestra.

"It's been a wonderful season with the Youth Orchestra, my second full year with the KSYOA," said James Fellenbaum, Music Director. "We're thrilled that our new Assistant Conductor, Katie Middleton, will be taking the podium to lead the Youth Orchestra in a work on this program. With the Bizet and Bernstein on the program, it promises to be a superb end to our concert season. Best wishes to all the graduating seniors. Just a few years ago, many of them were sitting in the Philharmonia Orchestra."

The Association's oldest group of musicians, the Youth Orchestra, a full symphonic orchestra led by Music Director James Fellenbaum, will perform Overture to West Side Story and Farandole from L'Alesienne Suite No. 2 by Georges Bizet. Under the direction of Katie Middleton, the Orchestra will play Franz von Suppe's Overture to Poet and Peasant. Ben Rogers will solo on cello. Ben is a senior at Bearden High School and has been a member of the Knoxville Symphony Youth Orchestra (KSYO) for three years. He began playing the cello at the age of eleven, and has studied with Ihsan Kartal for over four years. He will be attending the University of Tennessee in Knoxville in the fall and has been accepted into the Chancellor's Honors College. Ben will be pursuing a degree in cello performance.

The Youth Orchestra is saying goodbye to 34 talented high school seniors who will be entering colleges and universities in the fall. A special recognition of the seniors will occur during the concert.

The Knoxville Symphony Youth Orchestra Association consists of five separate ensembles with over 265 participating students, ages 7 to 18, from throughout East Tennessee. The Association is currently celebrating its 38th season and rehearses throughout the school year Monday evenings at West Valley Middle School in Knoxville. The Youth Orchestra Association performed four concerts throughout the 2011-2012 season all of which take place at the Tennessee Theatre and are FREE and open to the public.

Applications are now available for the KSYO's Summer String Camp. Visit www.knoxvillesymphony.com for more information.

Published April 25, 2012