Youth Orchestra Enters Ninth Year in RiverDell

For the past nine years, musicians from around Bergen County have taken up their instruments at to perform with the Fine Tuners Youth String Orchestra.

Led by Arlene Locola, the Youth Orchestra performs a diverse repertoire of classical, jazz, pop, Bluegrass, Folk, and Broadway music. They are joined by vocalists from the Claudette Peterson Vocal studio volunteer to sing operatic arias, Broadway solos and duets during their concerts.

"I just love turning kids on to the gift of music," Locola said.

The group was honored in April 2010 by former Bergen County Executive Denis McNerney and the Board of Freeholders for performing at nursing homes and at the Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners for the homeless at Christ Church of Hackensack.

The upcoming 2011 Holiday tour welcomes new venues and opportunities to present the gift of music for senior citizens, the homeless and at area malls for the public.

This orchestra is comprised of string students in grades 3-12 from Oradell and River Edge, along with Tenafly, Westwood, Ridgewood, Bogota, Teaneck, and Hillsdale.

The Fine Tuners meet weekly on Fridays 4-6:15 p.m. at the , 925 Fifth Avenue in River Edge beginning Sept. 9. For more information about Fine Tuners Orchestra, contact Locola at 201-906-3221, email strings201@aol.com, or visit online.