The Green Mountain Youth Symphony (GMYS) welcomes the change of seasons with two concerts at the Barre Opera House showcasing nearly 100 young musicians from Vermont and New Hampshire in three orchestras. This semester the Senior Orchestra has prepared a program focused on music composed by American women from the mid-1800s through 2014. This very special program was made possible by a generous grant from Women’s Philharmonic Advocacy.
On Saturday, April 5 at 3:30pm, the GMYS Repertory and Concert Orchestras perform. These are the beginning and intermediate ensembles in GMYS and their program includes a wide variety of music from Vaughn Williams, Brubaker and Rodgers to the themes from The Addams Family and Edward Scissorhands. The Repertory Orchestra, under the baton of Paul Perley, opens the concert followed by the Concert Orchestra, conducted by GMYS Artistic Director Robert Blais. Admission to the afternoon performance is by a suggested $5 donation at the door. Children under 18 are admitted free of charge.
Also on Saturday, April 5 at 7pm, the GMYS Senior Orchestra presents a full-length program of music composed by American women spanning three centuries. The program includes the entire, rarely heard ‘Gaelic’ Symphony in E minor by Mrs. H. H. A. Beach (premiered in 1896 in Boston). The 20th century is represented by a world premiere of Beth Anderson’s Revelation (composed in 1980). Three pieces from the current century are also on the program: Frontier Fancies by Barbara Harbach, featuring Northfield violinist Zachary Acosta, Briskly Sunny by Erin Magill, and Hidden Mountains by Eileen Kocherlakota. Miss Magill and Miss Kocherlakota composed their music as part of the Music-COMP mentoring program here in Vermont.
Tickets for the evening performance are available through the Barre Opera House Box Office www.barreoperahouse.org or (802) 476-8188. Advance prices: $15 for adults, $10 for children under 18. At the door: $18 for adults, $12 for children. Ticket holders for the evening concert are welcome to attend the afternoon concert at no additional charge – simply show your ticket at the door.
Students of all instruments, all ages, and all levels are invited to join the fun and challenging environment of GMYS. Placement in the orchestras, wind ensemble, and summer camp is by audition only. GMYS also offers a Eurhythmics/Solfège course to all interested young musicians. For more information about the Green Mountain Youth Symphony or to schedule an audition, email GMYS at info@gmys-vt.org or visit www.gmys-vt.org.