Cincinnati Symphony Youth Orchestra Presents Winter Concert at CCM

CINCINNATI— The Cincinnati Symphony Youth Orchestra presents its first concert of the season on Saturday, December 15 at 7 p.m. at Corbett Auditorium at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Under the direction of CSO Assistant Conductor William White and CSYO Conducting Assistant Huan Jing, the CSYO will perform a variety of repertoire, much of which is very popular among musicians and audiences alike.

The concert begins with Dvořák’s festive Carnival Overture, followed by Bottesini’s Concerto for Contrabass and Orchestra, featuring student soloist Carl Anderson. Tchaikovsky’s famed Violin Concerto also flaunts the solo talents among the CSYO’s ranks with Matthew Hilvert performing the solo role. Rimsky-Korsakov’s lush Cappriccio Espagnol and Arturo Marquez’s Danzon No. 2 round out this crowd-pleasing program. A reception will follow the concert in the CCM Atrium.

“One of the great benefits our CSYO students enjoy is the opportunity to perform repertoire that may not always be available to them in their school orchestras,” said Alex Mendelssohn, CSO Manager of Community Learning. “In many cases, these students are performing some of the same works that the CSO presents during its Music Hall season, giving them invaluable concert performance experience.”

Tickets for the CSYO Winter Concert are just $10 for adults and $8 and can either be purchased at the door, by calling the CSO Box Office at (513) 381-3300 or online by visiting cincinnatisymphony.org/csyo.

The CSYO is grateful to Coney Island for its generous sponsorship of this season’s CSYO concerts. The Artist Sponsor for these performances is George Margaret McLane Foundation.

In addition to the CSYO Winter Concert, the CSO’s Community Engagement and Learning department is delighted to present the CSYO Concert Orchestra Winter Concert at 7 p.m. on Sunday, December 16 at Finneytown High School. The CSYO Concert Orchestra expands the CSO’s youth orchestra program with slightly younger students, allowing introductory experience, often in preparation for the CSYO. This performance is free and open to the public. Dale Swisher and Tim Holt conduct this ensemble, with a guest appearance from CSO Assistant Conductor William White.

Finally, the CSYO Nouveau Chamber Players will perform on Sunday, December 16 during the 10:15 a.m. Sunday Advent Service at the First United Church of Christ. The performance is a gesture of gratitude to the church, which graciously provides rehearsal space for the students.

About the Cincinnati Symphony Youth Orchestra
The Cincinnati Symphony Youth Orchestra (CSYO), under the direction of CSO Assistant Conductor William C. White, is made up of students in grades 9–12 who represent over 30 high schools in southwestern Ohio, southeastern Indiana, and northern Kentucky.
Founded in 1964 by former CSO Music Director Max Rudolf and area music educators, the CSYO is dedicated to the cultivation of talent and provides outstanding young instrumentalists the opportunity to perform repertoire not normally available through their school music programs.

Students attend weekly rehearsals at the College-Conservatory of Music, are invited to attend CSO concerts at Music Hall, study with CSO musicians in sectionals held several times throughout the season, and give concert performances, often with peer soloists chosen through the CSYO Concerto Competition.  An annual highlight of the season is the CSO/CSYO Side-by-Side Concert performed at Music Hall

A special contribution of the Multicultural Awareness Council to the CSO is the establishment of the Norman E. Johns Chair in the Cincinnati Symphony Youth Orchestra. This award is made to a talented minority student to cover the cost of participation in the CSYO. Students must first be accepted into the orchestra by means of the regular audition process in the fall; once accepted, students may choose to audition before a panel of judges for the award.

Additionally, the CSYO presents the Josephine I. and David J. Joseph, Jr. Scholarship each year at its Memorial Day Concert. Since 1991, the scholarship has been awarded to a senior student who has been a winner of the CSYO Concerto Competition and who plans to pursue a career in music.

CSYO TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for students and seniors; they are available at the door, by phone at (513) 381-3300, on the Internet at www.cincinnatisymphony.org/csyo , and in person at:  CSO Box Office at Music Hall, 1241 Elm Street, Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.