York Orchestras Present Holiday Concert

Submitted by Elmhurst Community Unit School District 205.

On Thursday, Nov. 19 at 7:30 p.m., the York Community High School Orchestras will present a Holiday Concert, including performances by the York Cadet, Concert and Symphony Orchestras conducted by Ray Ostwald, assisted by Evangelia Pagones, a student teacher from the University of Illinois.

The orchestras will offer a mixture of classical and seasonal favorites. Junior violinist and concerto competition winner Joelle Chiu, will perform the first movement of Felix Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E Minor. Junior mezzo soprano Tatum Langley will sing the world premiere of a new transcription of the traditional Irish folk song Carrickfergus, which also features harpist Julia Dierksheide and cellist Kevin Shehan. The new transcription is by York alumnus and former York music faculty member Curtis J. Merrill.

The centerpiece of the evening will be excerpts from Tchaikovsky’s Holiday balletThe Nutcracker. Other featured composers include Johannes Brahms, Arcangelo Corelli and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Additional featured student soloists include harpist Abbey Delaney, violinists Ella Lee, Elizabeth Mazzocco, Alexandra Barishman and Emma Carroll, violist Riley Haug, and keyboard specialists Adela Skowronski and Andrew French.

The concert will be in York’s Merle E. Baker Auditorium. Admission is free.