Posting Date: April 21, 2010
Kennesaw State hosts range of young talent in concert
Georgia Youth Symphony Orchestra unites musicians
By Tabatha Wahlquist
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Students performing in the Georgia Youth Symphony Orchestra |
The Kennesaw State University School of Music will present young and talented musicians from across the state in the Georgia Youth Symphony Orchestra and Chorus spring concert on May 9 in the Performance Hall of the Dr. Bobbie Bailey & Family Performance Center. Performance times are 3 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
KSU Director of Orchestras Michael Alexander will conduct along with Director of Jazz Studies Sam Skelton, Professor of Percussion John Lawless, Assistant Professor of Choral Music Education Alison Mann and staff of the Cobb Symphony Orchesta.
“The orchestras will perform a variety of repertoire at age levels ranging from middle school through high school,” says Alexander. The show will also feature performances by two choruses, a jazz band and a percussion ensemble.
The percussion ensemble will perform all original compositions written by the students in the group. Highlights of the concert include performances by this year’s KSU Concerto Competition winners Grace Laminack and Michelle Lee.
The Georgia Youth Symphony Orchestra and Chorus is the largest youth orchestra program in the Southeast, with approximately 400 students. Alexander explains,“The GYSO program is run by the Cobb Symphony, who provides paid internships to KSU students to have them work with the program. Several alumni from the organization are now music students at KSU."
“Since part of the group is in residence at KSU, it represents a wonderful commitment by KSU to support music education in our region,” says Alexander.
Tickets for the concert are $5 and can be purchased from the Cobb Symphony Orchestra.