York Orchestras Present Special Performances, Honors Graduates

ELMHURST, IL — York High School Orchestras will present special performances next week. The York Community High School Music Department will present performances by the York Cadet and Concert Orchestras at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 16. The district said the concert will honor members of the graduating class of 2017, and will feature a variety of music including selections from "Beauty and the Beast," "The Wizard of Oz," "The Patriot" and "Game of Thrones."

According to a release, featured soloists include violinists Karlene Stanton and Maya Wlodarczyk as well as Lily Martinez on piano and harpsichord. A student cello quartet will also perform.

Ray Ostwald is director of the York Cadet and Concert Orchestras.

The York Symphony Orchestra will present a special performance at 7:30 p.m. May 18. According to a release, the concert will honor the graduating class of 2017, and will feature junior Concerto Competition Winner Tessa Vermeulen performing the François Borne’s Fantasie Brillante for Flute and Orchestra on Themes from Bizet’s “Carmen.”

The district said the Orchestra will perform Béla Bartók’s Rumanian Folk Dances, highlights from Edward Grieg’s Peer Gynt Suite, the finale from Antonin Dvorák’s New World Symphony and “Jupiter” from Gustav Holst’s The Planets. Other featured student musicians include Ella Lee, Elizabeth Mazzocco and Jenna Garcia (violin), Linnea Dierksheide (harp), Gabe Lewis, Jack Gornick and Gabriela Uribe (clarinet), Brian Strauch and Siena Olson (horn), Emmett O’Brien (trumpet), Kate DesBiens (oboe) and Amy Choi (piccolo).

The York Symphony Orchestra is also directed by Ray Ostwald, but student conductors Andrew French and Elizabeth Mazzocco will also get a chance to conduct.

Both performances are free, but all are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item to donate to a local food pantry. A reception honoring the student musicians will follow the concert in the cafeteria.

Photo provided by District 205.