“If you attend the fall concert of the Wichita Falls Youth Symphony Orchestra on Sunday, you might want to bring a tissue,” writes Richard Carter in last Thursday’s (11/3) Times Record News (Wichita Falls, Texas). “ ‘When the full ensemble plays “Enigma Variations” (by Edward Elgar), you will cry. It is so beautiful,’ Conductor Susan Harvey said. Youth symphony members, ranging from fourth-graders to 12th-graders, will perform 3 p.m. Sunday in Akin Auditorium on the Midwestern State University campus. Three YSO musical groups will perform, including the 55-member symphonic orchestra, the 15-student philharmonic and the 27-member Strolling Strings. The latter two groups are conducted by Gina Menden.… Harvey puts together music each summer, listening to about 180 hours of ‘traditional orchestra music, new recordings, new releases, arrangements of pieces that may not yet be accessible by the students.’ She selects the pieces based on the strengths of her musicians. ‘This year, I knew I wanted to challenge the low brass (trombones and tuba), because I knew I had some outstanding players.’ … She wants music that challenges all of her musicians and gives them an opportunity to develop.”
Posted November 10, 2016
