“The future of classical music in Wichita Falls is now,” writes Richard Carter in Friday’s (11/13) Times Record News (Wichita Falls, Texas). “Young musicians in the Wichita Falls Youth Symphony Orchestra, from third grade through high school, will perform their fall concert at 3 p.m. Sunday in Akin Auditorium on the Midwestern State University campus. The performance will feature not just the full orchestra but the YSO Philharmonic strings group and smaller ensembles of developing brass and string musicians. Susan Harvey, chairwoman of the MSU music department, conducts the orchestra, which ranges from about 50 to 70 members from Wichita Falls and many surrounding communities.” The orchestra will play works by Verdi and Albeniz, and “will then tease its Archer City Christmas concert with a medley from ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas.’ … The Sunday afternoon of music will open with the 20-member or so YSO Philharmonic, featuring musicians from seventh through 12th grade. The Philharmonic, led by conductor Gina Menden, will perform Brian Balmages’ ‘Wood Splitter Fanfare,’ Andante Cantabile from Tchaikovsky’s Quartet in D, and Catherine McMichael’s ‘Esperance.’ … The Youth Symphony String Ensemble will play Coldplay’s ‘Yellow.’ … The ensembles revolve around public outreach and musical skills development, said Menden.”
Posted November 13, 2015
