- Connel Murray
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Lake County Symphony Association presents Youth Orchestra Spring Concert June 8
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Symphony Youth Orchestra will perform its annual Spring Concert on Sunday, June 8.
The concert will begin at 3 p.m. at the Soper Reese Theatre, 275 S. Main St. in Lakeport.
According to conductor Sue Condit, the orchestra will be preceded by musicians from the Symphony Association’s string music classes.
The four classes include violin, viola and cello. All classes will participate, playing pieces from the “String Explorer” method book.
Rafael Contreras will perform a viola solo by Hans Sitt called, “Album Leaves” accompanied by Jeanine Mullen on piano.
The classes have been made possible by a generous grant from the Lake County Wine Alliance.
After the string class performers open the concert, the Youth Orchestra will take the stage to perform two pieces by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
“Amadeus!” is the recognizable theme from Mozart’s “Symphony No. 25,” and was featured in the award-winning 1984 film “Amadeus!”
Known for its high energy, this piece has become one of the orchestra’s favorites, according to Condit. “Minuetto” is the third movement of Symphony 35, perhaps better known as the “Haffner.” It is a bright and cheerful work in contrast to the slow and serious movements that surround it.
The next selection moves into a more contemporary field with “Halo 3” which was composed by Marty O’Donnell and Michael Savatori, and features themes from the popular 2007 video game “Halo 3.”
Arranger Michael Story has combined a feeling of mystery with primitive and driving music, which makes this piece very exciting both to play and to hear.
The first half will end with a reprise from the Mother's Day Symphony Concert of the theme from the movie “The Avengers,” based on Marvel Comics superheroes. It was written by Alan Silvestri and arranged by Larry Moore.
The concert’s second half will open with the finale from Serge Prokofiev’s “Classical Symphony.” Arranger Carrie Lane Gruselle has captured the spirit of this high-energy piece with its key changes, accents and accidentals. “Shepherd’s Hey” (an English Morris Dance) composed by Percy Grainger and arranged by Harry Alshin, features staccato, shared melody in all parts, and counter melodies in the second violin part.
Following is “An Irish Party in Third Class” which showcases two traditional Irish fiddle tunes arranged by Gaelic Storm and adopted by Larry Moore. Both of these tunes were featured in the soundtrack of the motion picture “Titanic.” Upper position work in the first violin part makes these pieces challenging.
Clayton Rudiger, Edison Serena and Lars Tisell will perform a fiddle tune called “Wizard's Walk” by contemporary composer Jay Ungar that features incredibly difficult fingering patterns, and “Tam Lin,” a popular, driving Irish reel composed by Davey Arthur, of County Kerry, Ireland. The boys will be accompanied by Mark Rudiger on guitar and Jeanine Mullen on piano.
The concert will end with “Back to the Future,” the Silvestri/O’Loughlin theme from the popular 1985 Steven Spielberg movie. This is the most difficult piece the Youth Orchestra has ever attempted and they are meeting the challenge.
Members of the symphony who have provided past support during sectionals will join the orchestra members in this number.
The Soper Reese’s Wally Fuller will show slides from the movie on the theater’s big screen.
Lake County music lovers are urged to show support for the kids and their families who work hard to keep music alive and well here, and one way to show appreciation is to attend their annual concert.
For Symphony Association season ticket holders admission is free. There also is no charge for any youngsters under 18, while admission for others is just $5.
The Soper Reese Theatre has waived its standard fees, so all proceeds will go directly into the Youth Orchestra fund.