PATRICIA C. SYAK | Symphony notes Symphony orchestra will record its concert

Fifty years ago, when recordings were issued on shellac discs that spun at 78 rotations per minute, few American orchestras were involved in recordings. On Saturday, the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra, directed by Isaiah Jackson, will join the ranks of many American orchestras who record for major distribution.
No stranger to the recording studio, Jackson remarked that "the CD will give admirers of the Youngstown Symphony a chance to share with family and friends the sounds, and the experience, of Youngstown's premier performing arts organization."
The YSO recording is made possible through the support of Boardman Steel, Inc.; Cafaro Foundation; Harrington, Hoppe & amp; Mitchell, Ltd.; Home Savings and Loan Company; Dr. and Mrs. Kenneth Lloyd; Mrs. Julie Planck; Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Smith, Jr.; the estate of Frances Schwebel Solomon; and the Charles W. and Sarah J. Syak Foundation.
Guests
Joining the YSO for the 8 p.m. concert and recording will be jazz pianist Joe Augustine and members of his quartet, who will be performing a series of orchestral arrangements by Artie Schroeck, commissioned by Augustine for the concert.
On a lifelong journey to nurture his own musical signature, Augustine is a master at creating meticulous, distinctive arrangements so that his listeners hear the music in exciting new ways.
Two original Augustine compositions, "No More Tears for Christmas" and "On This Special Day," will be featured.
Augustine performs live with symphony orchestras, in jazz clubs, with his trio or quartet and as a solo pianist. He has been with national recording companies since 1992 and has performed and lectured on the business of music at colleges and universities nationwide.
Joining Augustine on such cherished melodies as "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow," "The Christmas Song," "Winter Wonderland," "Santa Baby" and "Sleigh Ride" will be David Finck, double bass; Clint de Ganon, percussion; and arranger Artie Schroeck, vibraphone.
The orchestra opens the concert with Tchaikovsky's popular "The Nutcracker Suite" with the "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy" and "Merlitons," among others.
The orchestra continues with Hanukkah songs and a collection of seasonal treats for the kid in all of us: "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town," "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," "Frosty the Snowman" and "Silver Bells." WKBN TV personality Rich Morgan narrates the Clement Moore poem "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" with music by Kevin Kaska.
Youth orchestra
The strains of symphonic music will once again fill Powers Auditorium when the Youngstown Symphony Youth Orchestra performs at 4 p.m. Dec. 15, directed by Stephen Gage, in their midwinter concert titled "The Moldau Meets Route 66."
In Czech composer Bedrich Smetana's "The Moldau," the composer sought to describe the course of the river from its beginning, when two brooks join in a stream that flows through forests and countryside toward Prague, continuing its journey to the Elbe past ruined castles.
Journey
American composer Michael Daugherty takes the listener upon another journey: Route 66 and a musical reflection on America and such icons, places and things as Elvis Presley, James Cagney, Jackie O., Liberace, Barbie dolls, Motown and pink flamingo lawn ornaments.
The youth orchestra opens the concert with the Russlan and Ludmilla Overture by Michail Glinka. Boardman High School seniors and youth orchestra concerto competition winners Rachel Franks, violist, and Jessica Banks, flutist, perform with their colleagues.
Franks performs Bruck's Romance for Viola and Orchestra, and Banks performs the Allegro movement from Devienne's Seventh Concerto in E minor for Flute and Orchestra.
The concert begins with a program by the Symphonettes, directed by Michele Vari.
Tickets for the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra concert Dec. 7 and the youth orchestra concert are available by calling the Symphony Center box office at (330) 744-0264.
XPatricia C. Syak is executive director of the Youngstown Symphony Society.