“Most young musicians would only dream of seeing their original composition performed by a complete orchestra. Not if José Luis Gomez has it his way,” writes Leah Carole Gilchrist in Tuesday’s (5/15) Arizona Daily Star (Tucson). This weekend, “the Tucson Symphony Orchestra music director … will conduct the TSO in reading sessions of original student compositions from members of the orchestra’s Young Composers Project…. The concerts cap the four-day Young Composers Festival, which … includes free workshops, lectures, expert panels and performances by the orchestra to mark the end of the project’s 25th year. The Young Composers Project, open to youths 8 to 18, gives students the tools and resources to compose music, and the opportunity to hear their original works played by a full orchestra…. TSO assistant principal violist Ilona Vukovic-Gay is the project’s longtime instructor.… The experience of working on the project leaves a lasting impact on the participating students. Levi Powe, a 17-year-old cellist, has written four pieces for the full TSO during his seven years with the project. ‘I don’t take it lightly, having the orchestra play it,’ Powe said about hearing his original works performed by TSO. Powe is finishing his fifth piece, which will be performed at the festival.”
Posted May 15, 2018
In photo: Levi Powe, pictured with his cello, is a seven-year participant in the Tucson Symphony Orchestra’s Young Composers Project. Photo by Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
