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Williamsburg Youth Orchestra Collaborates with WSO

Young musicians collaborate with professional symphony players in a concert celebrating music education.

News Summary

The Williamsburg Youth Orchestra and the Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra will join forces for a biennial concert this Sunday, showcasing performances of Bizet’s ‘Carmen’ and Tchaikovsky’s ‘Capriccio Italien.’ This collaboration offers young musicians invaluable experience working alongside seasoned professionals, enhancing their skills and fostering community engagement through the arts. Tickets are priced at $10, with free admission for students, available for purchase online.

Williamsburg – The Williamsburg Youth Orchestra (WYO) and the Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra (WSO) are set to collaborate for their biennial concert this Sunday at 4 p.m. The event will take place at the Williamsburg Community Chapel, where audiences will enjoy a performance of five movements from George Bizet’s celebrated opera “Carmen” as well as Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s lively piece “Capriccio Italien.”

This concert offers a unique educational opportunity for young musicians, as they will perform alongside professionals from the WSO. David Grandis, the musical director of WYO, underscores the importance of this experience by stating that students can greatly benefit from working closely with seasoned musicians, which enhances their skills and understanding of the music.

The WYO’s symphony orchestra, the highest-level ensemble in the organization, is primarily composed of high school students, although a few middle school musicians also participate. Around 70 members of the orchestra hail from Williamsburg, Newport News, and surrounding counties, including York, James City, and Isle of Wight. Throughout the year, these students engage in three concerts and hold weekly rehearsals lasting two hours each. Grandis carefully selects challenging music for the orchestra to ensure they are exposed to high-quality compositions, rather than lesser arrangements.

Among the young musicians performing is 11th grader Madeleine Chen from Warhill High School, who plays the cello. Since joining the orchestra in her freshman year, she notes that collaboration with WSO musicians has helped to strengthen the cohesiveness of the cello section.

Tanya Song, the executive director of the youth orchestra, emphasizes the significance of the biennial concert, stating that it fulfills the organization’s mission of fostering collaboration and promoting community engagement through the arts.

Doug Olenik, a spokesman for the WSO, highlights the joy felt by professional musicians when working with their younger counterparts and the long-lasting positive impact these partnerships can have on aspiring artists.

Tickets for the performance are reasonably priced at $10, with free admission available for students. Tickets can be purchased in advance online, allowing attendees the chance to witness this collaborative effort that showcases both the talent of young musicians and the artistry of professionals.

This biennial concert is not just a performance; it is a celebration of music, education, and community spirit that brings together local talent and experienced musicians, providing an invaluable learning experience for the youth involved.

For those interested in attending, more information and ticket purchases are available at the WSO’s online schedule.