PATRICIA C. SYAK | Symphony notes Benefit concerts on the calendar

Concerts in support of young people dot the Powers Auditorium calendar next week.
The Youngstown Symphony Youth Orchestra, directed by Stephen Gage, performs at 4 p.m. Dec. 14; and the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra will play at 7 p.m. Dec. 15 to benefit Youngstown Catholic elementary schools and high schools. That concert is under the auspices of the Christmas in the City Committee.
The youth orchestra's show will be a program of Italian literature titled "Viva Italia!" Selections include the Overture from the opera "William Tell," by Giacchino Rossini, "Pines of the Appian Way" from Ottorino Respighi's "Pines of Rome," and "Capriccio Italien," the significant orchestral work by Russian born composer Peter Ilitch Tchaikovsky.
Composed in 1880, "Capriccio Italien" makes use of Italian folk themes that were inspired by the composer's visit to Italy.
At the podium
Assisting Gage with podium duties will be Richard Smrek, assistant director. Tristan Bano and Jenna Barvitski, winners of the youth orchestra's senior concerto competition, will be featured.
Bano, a senior from Hickory High School, will perform the first movement of the Greig Piano Concerto. Barvitski, from Boardman High School, performs the second movement from the Bruck Violin Concerto in G minor.
The Youngstown Symphony Symphonettes, a string ensemble for pupils in grades five through seven directed by Michele Vari, will open the program.
Youth orchestra
Membership in the Youngstown Symphony Youth Orchestra is open to pupils 13 through 18 by audition. Each September, auditions are held for positions in the orchestra. Candidates are required to perform a solo of their choice and do sight reading and scaling. More than 150 pupils auditioned for the youth orchestra this season. Pupils represent 20 high schools in Northeast Ohio and western Pennsylvania as well as middle schools in Mahoning County, Youngstown State University and home-schooled pupils from Bristolville, Lisbon, Salem, Southington and Grove City, Pa.
Dec. 15 at 7 p.m. at Powers Auditorium, the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of guest conductor Carl Topilow, and the Joe Augustine Trio, present Christmas in the City.
The Joe Augustine Trio with Augustine on piano, Wilbur Krabs on double bass, and percussionist Tom Ruggieri will perform Augustine compositions "No More Tears For Christmas" and "On This Special Day." The trio adds its unique touch to such seasonal classics as "White Christmas," "Santa Baby," "Sleigh Ride," "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow" and "I'll Be Home For Christmas."
The tunes to be heard at the concert were featured on the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra's recently released compact disc "Home For The Holidays with Joe Augustine."
Topilow leads the orchestra in Rimsky-Korsakov's "Dance of the Tumbler" from "Snow Maiden," Tchaikovsky's "March and Trepak" from "The Nutcracker," and Haydn's minuet from "The Toy Symphony."
Topilow plays clarinet with the YSO clarinet section in the fast-paced "Clarinet Candy" and introduces WFMJ TV personalities Frank Marzullo and Dave Trygar in "'Twas The Night Before Christmas."
Joining the orchestra and Topilow will be chorus members from the Central City Catholic Elementary Schools and Ursuline and Cardinal Mooney High Schools in a medley of songs of the season.
Tickets for the concerts are available by calling the symphony center box office at (330) 744-0264.