Springfield Symphony Youth Orchestra to perform winter concert Feb. 12

Date: 2/8/2012

February 8, 2012

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Symphony Youth Orchestras have had a very busy season this year, having recently performed at Symphony Hall prior to the Springfield Symphony Orchestra’s “Tchaikovsky & Beethoven” concert and their first annual Handel’s Messiah Sing-Along. They continue their 68th season with their annual Winter Concert on Feb. 12 at 3 p.m.

The orchestras traditionally use this Winter Concert to tour different venues throughout the Pioneer Valley, and are thrilled that Westfield State University will host them at Dever Auditorium.

The Springfield Symphony Youth Orchestras feature more than 140 school-aged musicians from over 40 towns in western Massachusetts and northern Connecticut. Marsha Hassett and Jonathan Lam, the orchestras’ conductors, will lead the Springfield Youth Sinfonia (SYS) and Springfield Youth Orchestra (SYO).

The orchestras will be playing Wagner’s Rienzi Overture, Bizet’s Carmen Suite No. 2, music from The Mikado and more! “Our conductor always chooses interesting pieces that we all find exciting to play and I always learn something that I can’t get from music lessons alone,” Morgan Menzyk, a seventh grade violinist from Florence, said.

Tickets will be sold at the door and are $10 for adults and half-price for youth younger than 17 and seniors older than age 65.

For more information, call Hillarie O’Toole at 733-0636 ext. 19.