Ridgefield Cellist to Perform with Western CT Youth Orchestra

RIDGEFIELD, CT — A sophomore at Ridgefield High School is scheduled to perform with the Western Connecticut Youth Orchestra.

Alexandra Dillulio will be performing the first movement of Edward Elgar’s Cello Concerto at the WCYO Winter Concert on Sunday, March 3 in Wilton.

Dillulio has been playing the cello since 4th grade, first playing with the Farmingville Elementary String Orchestra. In 6th grade, she began playing with the East Ridge Middle School Symphonic and Chamber Orchestras and subsequently began taking private lessons with Dr. Chungsun Kim of Wilton. As an 8th grader, Dillulio joined the WCYO Symphony Orchestra where she has been playing ever since. She also maintains participation with the WCYO Chamber Orchestra, as well as the Chamber and Symphonic Orchestras at Ridgefield High School. Dillulio is the co-principal cellist in the WCYO Symphony Orchestra.

The WCYO Winter Concert will include performances by all three music ensembles. In addition to the cello concerto, the Symphony Orchestra will perform Symphonic Metamorphosis by Paul Hindemith, and Romanian Rhapsody No.1 by George Enescu under the direction of Eric Mahl, WCYO Music Director and Conductor. The String Ensemble, under the direction of Tristan Rais-Sherman, will perform arrangements of classic works by Antonio Vivaldi and Ludwig Van
Beethoven as well as selections from films such as the Harry Potter and Star Wars series and Moana. The Wind Ensemble will present special guests David Radovich and John Lissauer on clarinet, performing “Allegretto Grazioso” from Concertpiece No. 2 by Felix Mendelssohn, an arrangement of Aaron Copland classics, and Fortress by Frank Ticheli, under the direction of Albert Montecalvo.

The WCYO, founded in 2002, is comprised of over 90 auditioned musicians ages 10 to 18, hailing from 20 towns in Connecticut and New York.

Tickets to the concert are $20 for adults, $10 for seniors and students and will be available at the door. The WCYO Winter Concert is being held Sunday, March 3 at 4:00 p.m. at the Clune Auditorium, Wilton High School, Wilton.