Youth Orchestra of Essex County to Play Disneyland in June 2012

If you are a young musician, how do you get to Disneyland?

Practice, practice, practice for your audition with Youth Orchestras of Essex County, whose upcoming season includes a performance trip to southern California in June 2012.

Conductor Karen Conrad of Maplewood, who is leading the trip with brass and woodwinds conductor Murray Colosimo, said playing music while traveling opens a child's eyes to the world's differences and harmonies.

"Having that extra, that music on a trip is different because you feel like you're really giving of yourself rather than just taking in the sights," Conrad said. "You're seeing it in a whole different light."

YOEC recently performed in Austria and Conrad and Colosimo both were on the trip, conducting concerts and climbing Alps with the  young musicians on the trip.

"We're playing music because we love to play music. That's what it's all about," said Conrad, whose own children, Paul, a cellist, and Kristen, a violist, are YOEC alumni.

The West Coast trip is scheduled for Saturday, June 23, through Wednesday, June 27. Aside from the Disneyland performance, other highlights include a master class as well as tours of Los Angeles, San Diego and, of course, the thrills and chills of Disneyland, California Adventure and Universal Studios.

YOEC rehearsals take place on Mondays at South Orange Middle School. The 2011-2012 season begins on Monday, September 12.

The orchestra holds auditions for musicians in grades 3-12 in September at South Orange Middle School. To schedule an audition, visit yoec.org to see audition requirements.

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