Playing with the big boys

By GARRY L. CLARK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- The anticipation was almost palpable Monday evening as members of the Youngstown Symphony Youth Orchestra rehearsed in preparation to celebrate their organization's 50th anniversary at Saturday's pre-subscription concert with the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra at Edward W. Powers Auditorium.
The auditorium stage was abuzz with activity as the young people talked excitedly while preparing to warm up and tune their various instruments. Then, as conductor Stephen Gage tapped his baton, instant silence fell across the room as each player focused on their maestro's opening remarks.
The YSYO will perform at the beginning of Saturday's concert and later, for the first time in many years, will join side-by-side with the YSO to close the program with the fourth movement of the New World Symphony No. 9 by Antonin Dvorak.
History
The youth orchestra was the brainchild of John Krueger, music director of the Youngstown Philharmonic Orchestra back in 1954 when young musicians first performed along side the main orchestra. The original concept was that each member of the Youngstown Philharmonic was to "adopt" a young musician to sit with while performing.
The first performance took place in 1954 at The Rayen School auditorium and was such a success that Krueger organized the group into the Junior Philharmonic. The group gave its first performance in May 1956 at Trinity Methodist Church hall and numbered about 30 students.
The Junior Philharmonic grew over the years and in 1965 underwent a name change to the Youngstown Symphony Youth Orchestra in keeping with the name change of its sponsor organization to the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra.
'Exciting' opportunity
Of this weekend's concert, five members of the YSYO hit the exact same note Monday, as all described the opportunity as "exciting" at least once during their brief interviews.
"It's very exciting," said Katie O'Neill of Boardman, violinist. The same sentiment was expressed by other YSYO members, including Jenna Barvitski, violin, of Boardman; Bethany Merritt, oboe, of Austintown; Kyle Ruth, trumpet, of Poland; and Ethan Clark, trombone, of Harmony, Pa.
O'Neill also described the experience as "awesome" and as a great opportunity to learn from professionals. The others, in harmony with her, also confessed to being "kind of nervous."
All five also mentioned the concert as an excellent opportunity to watch and learn from professionals during both the rehearsal and the performance itself. Merritt noted in particular her interest in watching and learning from the musical phrasing of the professionals.
Gage, conductor for the past 11 years, also appeared to be its main cheerleader as he enthusiastically guided the 106 members through their repertoire, encouraging them to do their best for "the joy of doing something really well." Assistant conductor and string coach is Richard Smrek, himself a former concertmaster of the YSYO. He, too, showed an energetic interest in inspiring the players to excellence in musicianship.
Original member
Saturday's concert also will have an original member of that first Junior Philharmonic orchestra, James Dunlap, who will be playing the viola in the YSO. Dunlap, too, expressed his excitement over the prospect of this weekend's concert, citing the tremendous talent he sees in the YSYO as well as area high school orchestras.
Dunlap was a sophomore in high school when the Junior Philharmonic was founded. The following year, he won a violin contest and joined the main orchestra where he played on a regular basis for 35 years. He now substitutes as needed and looks forward to the possibility of more side-by-side concerts. "I'm very impressed with the music they are able to do," he said of the YSYO.
Membership in the youth orchestra is open to students ages 13-18 who all must audition each September to have a place in that year's orchestra. Rehearsals are held each Monday evening at Bliss Hall on the Youngstown State University campus, and two concerts are performed annually in addition to the pre-subscription concert, all at Powers Auditorium. Members come from 23 different schools in northeast Ohio and western Pennsylvania.
Since 1998, the YSYO also has performed at four conferences of the Ohio Music Educators' Association.
A reception in celebration of the YSYO anniversary will follow Saturday's performance where YSO members and Maestro Isaiah Jackson will be the guests of honor. Alumni of the YSYO are also encouraged to attend the concert and reception.
Ticket information may be obtained by calling the auditorium box office at (330) 744-0264.
clark@vindy.com