PATRICIA C. SYAK | Symphony notes Programs aim to give youths music appreciation, skills

Through creative educational programming, the Youngstown Symphony Society instills an appreciation for music and assists young people to develop meaningful lifelong skills.
One such program is Storytyme, an imaginative interactive program for day care through first grade. Storytyme's Musical Suites will be presented at 9:30 and 10:45 a.m. Thursday and May 14 on the Edward W. Powers Auditorium stage.
Musical Suites, presented by vocalist Sally Williams and double bassist Jeffrey Bremer, introduces young people to children's folk songs from around the world.
From America's "She'll Be Comin' "Round The Mountain," to the West African "Funga Alafia" and Austrian "The Cuckoo," Storytyme's Musical Suites is a delightful collection of melodies to introduce musical concepts and provide opportunities for children to join in song and move to the music.
Those attending the Storytyme performances at Powers Auditorium are invited to park on Chestnut Street between Federal and Commerce streets. Chestnut Street will be blocked to through traffic during the performances to accommodate those attending the concerts.
For information or to purchase tickets, call the Symphony Center box office at (330) 744-0264.
Throughout this year, the Symphony Society has presented more than 25 Storytyme performances underwritten by Schwebel Baking Company before 738 children at community day care and nursery school facilities and kindergarten and first grade pupils.
Young people's series
Another educational program of the society presented with the Women's Committee for Children's Concerts is the annual Young People's Concert Series. The concerts and juried art exhibit foster an appreciation for music and art among Mahoning Valley children.
This year more than 8,100 pupils from Northeast Ohio and Western Pennsylvania attended Young People's Concerts at Powers Auditorium on April 22 and 23 with the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra, Music Director Isaiah Jackson and guest pianist Fabio Bidini.
Education takes another direction when pupils have the opportunity to participate as players or engage with professional musicians. During the season, the 106-member Youngstown Symphony Youth Orchestra, directed by Stephen Gage and assisted by Richard Smrek, presented three concerts and participated in a side-by-side performance with the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra.
Young string players have honed their skills preparatory to entering the youth orchestra or their school orchestra in the Youngstown Symphony Symphonettes. Under the guidance of Michele Vari and Allison Harris, the Symphonettes presented two concerts this season.
Michele Bartos, Jenna Barvitski, Brittany Eddy and Katie O'Neill were awarded the Garnet Klepfer Scholarship Award during the Youngstown Symphony Youth Orchestra and Symphonette concert Sunday at Powers.
The Garnet Klepfer Award for outstanding musicianship and dedication to the Youngstown Symphony Youth Orchestra is presented annually to youth orchestra graduating students. To be considered for the award, students must be members of the orchestra for a minimum of three years, display excellence in musicianship and show exemplary attendance at orchestra rehearsals and performances.
The award is presented in memory of Garnet Klepfer, longtime Youngstown Symphony Society administrative assistant and advocate for the society's educational programming. Miss Klepfer began working for the society after graduating from high school in 1959 and continued until her death in 1992.
XPatricia C. Syak is executive director of Youngstown Symphony Society.