Northern Valley Youth Orchestras fall concert set for Sunday

Contributed By Pamela Knudson Today at 7:09 AM Listen Comments Share Share this article News Reporting News Reporting Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. The Trust Project What is this? GRAND FORKS – The Northern Valley Youth Orchestras will present its fall concert at 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 15, at the Empire Arts Center, at 415 DeMers Ave. General admission tickets, which will only be available at the door, are as “pay what you can,” with a minimum of $5, said Naomi Welsh, NVYO’s executive director. The concert will be recorded for later viewing. ADVERTISEMENT With this concert, the organization is launching its 16th season, with the theme “Resound!” The two student symphony orchestras will each perform a variety of symphonic music by composers, living and historic. The works will include familiar favorites and lesser-known masterpieces inspired by film, ballet, opera and dance, Welsh said. The program will feature selections from Georges Bizet’s “Carmen Suites” and Arturo Marquèz’s exciting “Conga del Nuevo Fuego,” she said. The NVYO ensembles that will be performing are the Symphony, conducted by newly appointed NVYO artistic director Leon Kobayashi, with assistant Devon Tucker, and the Philharmonic, led by Kara Hartten, with assistant Katie Stermer. The Philharmonic will perform arrangements of Tchaikovsky’s famous “Romeo and Juliet Overture,” two songs by American composer Will Marion Cook, and other famous melodies from film and stage. The groups include more than 90 string, wind, brass and percussion student musicians from more than a dozen cities and schools in this region. In choosing the theme for this year, “Resound!,” the conductors selected music that features “the many ways music transforms different art forms and tells a story,” Welsh said. “If there were a thread throughout, it would perhaps be the Hans Christian Andersen quote, ‘Where words fail, music speaks.’” ADVERTISEMENT Sunday’s program features “a wonderful assortment of music from opera, ballet, film, theater and folk dance traditions, which convey a wide variety of human experiences and emotions – from sorrow to longing to joy.” The composers featured in this concert represent many countries and experiences, Welsh said. “Some of the tunes will be instantly recognizable even to audience members who don’t know the titles.” In one setting, listeners will experience “some of the most peaceful and beautiful moments and some of the most exciting, energetic moments symphonic music has to offer,” she said. Kobayashi, NVYO’s new artistic director, recently completed his master’s degree at the University of Minnesota, Welsh said. Originally from Phoenix, Arizona, he attended Vanderbilt to study violin and conducting before relocating to Minneapolis to complete his graduate studies. Kobayashi conducts and teaches violin at a university near the Twin Cities. The NVYO programs provide challenging symphonic technique and performance opportunities for young musicians, ages 9 to 21, in a supportive setting, Welsh said. “Participants make music, make friends and use their talents to make a difference in the community.” The NVYO, which also offers chamber music and introductory programs throughout the year, is supported in part by grants from the Neel Family Fund and the Iseminger Fund for the Arts, via the Northern Red River Community Foundation; the city of Grand Forks; the Myra Foundation; the Grand Forks Park District Foundation Ulland Fund; and the North Dakota Council on the Arts. ADVERTISEMENT Read more Grand Forks school district expands career exploration opportunities for middle school students 1h ago Pride of Dakota Holiday Showcase opens Friday at Alerus Center 15h ago Valley Middle School hosts Veterans Day celebration 17h ago Comments Share Share this article News Reporting News Reporting Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. The Trust Project What is this? Tags Tags MUSIC CONCERTS GRAND FORKS EMPIRE ARTS CENTER By Pamela Knudson Pamela Knudson is a features and arts/entertainment writer for the Grand Forks Herald. She has worked for the Herald since 2011 and has covered a wide variety of topics, including the latest performances in the region and health topics. Pamela can be reached at [email protected] or (701) 780-1107. 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