Special features will abound during the Chautauqua Regional Youth Symphony's Spring Gala Concert celebrating the completion of its 25th season.
Under the direction of conductor and music director Bryan Eckenrode, the concert will be held at 4 p.m. Sunday with performances by the Prelude Strings, the beginning string musicians; Young Artists Orchestra, intermediate instrumental students; and the Youth Symphony, musicians ages 13 through 20.
Alyssa Schwartz, a Youth Symphony alumnus, is returning to perform a flute solo with the orchestra. A graduate of Falconer High School and Michigan State University, Ms. Schwartz was principal flautist with the MSU Philharmonic Orchestra and Symphony Band. She has won numerous scholarships and competitions, including MSU's National Honors College Scholarship. She will be attending West Virginia University in the fall to achieve her master's degree in Music Performance.
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Alyssa Schwartz, a Chautauqua Regional Youth Symphony alumnus, will perform a flute solo in the concert at 4 p.m. Sunday.
The concert will mark the premiere of Kenny Hultin's orchestral arrangement of the classic rock band OneRepublic's "Secrets." A Jamestown High School graduate and Youth Symphony alumnus, Hultin will play string bass with the Youth Symphony for the performance. The United Arts Appeal of Chautauqua County recently awarded the symphony a grant for his work.
Augmenting the Youth Symphony's bassoon section will be Julie Muckinhaupt Paterniti and Elizabeth Rusch Fetters.
Also a youth symphony alumnus, Ms. Paterniti is a graduate of Jamestown High School and the State University at Fredonia. She has performed with the Fredonia Woodwind Quintet Camp, Alfred University Symphony Orchestra, and is currently with the Warren Philharmonic Orchestra.
Ms. Fetters is joining the symphony for her violinist sister Mary Worley's final concert. A graduate of Warren Area High School with music degrees from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and Kent State University, Ms. Fetters teaches middle school music for Harford County (Maryland) Public Schools. Among her musical accomplishments are being a founding member of the Upper Chesapeake Wind Ensemble and having numerous articles published on bassoon pedagogy.
Dennis Webster will serve as master of ceremonies for the concert.
Following the performance, a gala reception will be held on the mezzanine of the theatre.
Tickets for the concert are $10 pre-sale or $12 at the door for adults; ages 12 and under are $8 pre-sale or $10 at the door, and there is no charge for those 5 and under.
Pre-sale tickets are available from members of the orchestras and the Reg Lenna Civic Center box office by calling 484-7070.
The concert is funded in part by the New York State Council on the Arts Decentralization Regrant Program administered by the Cattaraugus County Arts Council and the United Arts Appeal of Chautauqua County Projects Pool Grant Program.
For more information about the Chautauqua Regional Youth Symphony, visit CRYouthSymphony.com.