Published: May 05, 2008 10:29 am            

Spring musical flings | Symphony chorus, youth orchestra schedule concerts in Richland

BY TED POTTS

TPOTTS@TRIBDEM.COM

Spring will be saluted in music at two concerts this month.

The Johnstown Symphony Youth Orchestra will hold its spring concert at 1 p.m. Saturday at Pasquerilla Performing Arts Center, Pitt-Johnstown, Richland Township.

The Johnstown Symphony Chorus will present its spring concert at 3 p.m. May 18 at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, 1000 Scalp Ave., Richland Township.

Both are affiliates of the Johnstown Symphony Orchestra.

Maestro Istvan Jaray, music director of the symphony orchestra, also directs the youth orchestra. He said the youth orchestra is made up of about 50 young musicians ranging in age from 10 to 18 years old.

Saturday’s concert will feature a varied program of classical, light classical and popular music and will last for about an hour, he said.

Jaray enjoys working with the young musicians.

“They love music, they are enthusiastic and a joy to be around,” he said.

Tickets are $5 and will be available at the door, with children younger than 6 admitted free.

The chorus concert will include a variety of vocal music. Offerings will range from spirituals to patriotic songs to baroque to classics to contemporary selections, said Samuel L. Coco, director.

Included among patriotic favorites will be “Battle Hymn of The Republic.” Chorus members will perform “An American Trilogy,” which is a gospel version of three patriotic songs, Coco said.

There will be songs from Africa and the Caribbean. The chorus will sing the Hebrew national anthem titled “Hativka” in that dialect, Coco said, describing it as a “beautiful and moving piece.”

The chorus includes men and women and is made up of 80 members, Coco said.

The chorus supports the Johnstown Symphony Orchestra when vocals are needed.

Tickets for the May 18 concert are $5, but children younger than 6 years old are admitted free. Tickets are available from chorus members and from the symphony orchestra’s office at 227 Franklin St., downtown Johnstown. Tickets also will be available at the door the afternoon of the concert.

The chorus is looking for additional members, Coco said. Anyone interested should call the symphony office at 535-6738 for information, he said.



On stages

What: Johnstown Symphony Youth Orchestra Spring Concert.

When: 1 p.m. Saturday.

Where: Pasquerilla Performing Arts Center, Pitt-Johnstown, Richland Township.

Admission: $5.



What: Johnstown Symphony Chorus Spring Concert.

When: 3 p.m. May 18.

Where: Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, 1000 Scalp Ave., Richland Township.

Admission: $5.

        

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