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This weekend 80 young musicians perform

Okanagan Symphony Youth Orchestra performs in Penticton, Vernon and Kelowna starting Friday, Nov. 22

Three performances this weekend will feature the 80 talented musicians of the Okanagan Symphony Youth Orchestra performing classical pieces for guests attending concerts in Penticton, Vernon and Kelowna.

Andrew Storey

The featured soloist for this concert series is Andrew Stoney, a pianist residing in Salmon Arm, who is an Okanagan Symphony Youth Orchestra musician.

Andrew  has competed and performed across the province at music festivals, such as the Kelowna Kiwanis Music Festival, Kamloops Festival of the Performing Arts, Burnaby Clef Society Festival, Performing Arts B.C. Provincial Festival, and his hometown Shuswap Music Festival. Aside from the piano, Andrew makes an effort to expand his musicality away from the keyboard. He currently works with three different choirs as an accompanist, baritone and conductor; he is a percussionist in the OSYO, and spent two seasons with the Monashee Chamber Orchestra as a violinist, which included a concert series of the complete Messiah. Solo pianism is very solitary, so chamber and orchestral music are important to him.

The program will include “Barber of Seville Overture,” by Rossini; “Hatikva,” arranged by J. Williams; “Piano Concert #2 1st Movement” from composer Rachmaninoff; “Russian Sailor’s Dance” by Gliere; “Hungarian Dance No. 5” written by Brahms; “Carment – First Suite” by Bizet and “Lord of the Dance” arranged by Moore.

“Our youth musicians are so talented that they will impress every music lover and attendees will truly enjoy this show,” said Carol Colpitts, coordinator Okanagan Symphony Youth Orchestra. “These musicians work so hard and love what they do and many will make performing in an orchestra part of their future careers.”

“It brings everyone so much enjoyment to see how these musicians grow during their time with the Okanagan Symphony Youth Orchestra,” comments Dennis Colpitts, Music Director Okanagan Symphony Youth Orchestra. “They learn so much from each other and their mentors, their hard work and dedication will show at their performances this weekend.

The Okanagan Symphony Youth Orchestra Fall concert series opens Saturday, November 22 at 7 p.m. in Penticton at Cleland Theatre (325 Power Street)

There will be two performances on Sunday, November 23, Vernon 2 p.m. at Trinity United Church  in Vernon (3300 Alexis Park Drive).

And on November 23 7 p.m. at First Lutheran Church (4091 Lakeshore Drive) in Kelowna will host the final performance.

Tickets are general admission and are $15 for adults, $10 for seniors and youth, children 12 and under $5. Tickets can be purchased from students, the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra office (865 Bernard Ave, Kelowna), the Kelowna, Vernon and Penticton music schools as well as will be available at the door.

The Okanagan Symphony Youth Orchestra (OSYO) is under the umbrella of the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra (OSO) as part of the OSO’s Outreach and Education program. OSYO exists to provide the youth of the Okanagan with opportunities to engage in advanced orchestral playing together with their peers who share a love for classical music, to compose and conduct their own pieces under professional guidance, and to contribute to the cultural life and artistic expression of the Okanagan community. Conducted by Rosemary Thomson and Dennis Colpitts and mentored by professional players from the OSO, the OSYO provides a rigorous musical education to string, wind, brass and percussion players throughout the valley.

www.twitter.com/OSYouth orwww.facebook.com/YouthSymphonyOkanagan.