The Columbus Symphony Youth Orchestra will begin the New Year with a new kind of performance. On Jan. 12 at 3 p.m., all four youth orchestras will perform together under the direction of Junichi Hirokami, Music Director of the Columbus Symphony.
The Capitol Theatre stage will be packed with 306 of the best student musicians in Central Ohio. Students in grades three through 12 audition for a coveted place in this esteemed orchestra. Once they are accepted, they are expected to attend rehearsals, participate in their school orchestra and take private lessons.
In other words, these 306 students dedicate their lives to their art. According to Brooke Preston, Columbus Symphony Public Relations Manager, while listening to this orchestra it is hard to believe they are so young. “You’ll never find a more passionate group of people,” she says. “People who are going just to expect another student concert are going to be blown away.”
The CSYO uses this performance to recruit new members and retain current members. The performance displays what the orchestra is capable of and why students should aspire to join their peers.
According to Justine Daniel, Youth Orchestras Manager, CSYO hopes to see young musicians in the audience so that they will audition. “We hope that they come and we target them,” she says.
This year's CSYO showcase is the first performance to include all four orchestras since the addition of the Junior Strings. Having 306 members presents problems from scheduling rehearsal to fitting everyone on stage during the showcase. “It’s a fun challenge to try to get that to work,” says Daniel. Each orchestra will perform individually before all four join together for the first time.
Another special addition is that the showcase will be directed by Columbus Symphony Director Junichi Hirokami. Hirokami’s participation is a welcomed addition for the CSYO. “It’s great for us because it shows that our music director supports our organization," Daniel says.
The CSYO showcase has not been directed by the Columbus Symphony Music Director in 30 years. According to Preston it is a unique event. “It’s something that can’t happen every time, but we’re really glad it happened this time,” she says.
Another performance will take place on Jan. 27 at 3 p.m. at Dublin Jerome High School. In this concert, the CSYO will perform side by side with the Columbus Symphony. This performance will be directed by Conductor Peter Stafford Wilson.
Tickets for the CSYO performance with the Columbus Symphony may be purchased at Dublin Jerome High School one hour before the performance. Admission is $8 for adults and $5 for youth and seniors. For more information visit www.ColumbusSymphony.com.