In Thursday’s (11/3) Spokesman-Review, Cindy Hval writes, “The sweet sound of Mozart echoed through a ballroom at the Spokane Masonic Center recently, as members of the Spokane Youth Symphony Orchestra prepared for their first concert of the season. Dozens of young musicians concentrated on the score while keeping watchful eyes on the swaying baton of their new artistic director, Julian Gomez-Giraldo. ‘Our 2011-2012 season is “Happily Ever After,” and this literary bent will set this season apart from all of our other ones,’ said Executive Director David Hollingshead. … The 62nd season of Spokane Youth Symphony marks big changes. When Verne Windham announced his retirement after 15 years as artistic director, the hiring committee sifted through more than 40 applications from around the world before selecting Gomez-Giraldo. ‘The season’s title was born of Verne’s departure,’ Hollingshead said. … With 198 children enrolled and four orchestras, Spokane Youth Symphony continues to thrive. And Gomez-Giraldo, director of orchestras at Eastern Washington University and director of the Spokane Symphony Chorale, hopes to expand on the organization’s reputation for musical excellence.”
Posted November 3, 2011
