ST. MARY’S CITY, Md. (July 13, 2009) — Talented young musicians from the Maryland Youth Symphony Orchestra take center stage Friday, July 17, at the next outdoor concert of the annual River Concert Series at St. Mary’s College of Maryland (SMCM). Katherine Heilman, principal oboe, and Zachary Silberschlag, principal trumpet, will perform with the Chesapeake Orchestra directed by Jeffrey Silberschlag. Every Friday through July, enjoy world-class music on the Townhouse Green and food from local vendors. Gates open at 5 p.m. and concerts start at 7 p.m. The concerts are free and open to the public, and picnic baskets are welcome.
The Maryland Youth Symphony Orchestra (MYSO) was founded by Angelo Gatto in 1964 to bring together gifted young musicians from throughout the state. The MYSO has performed in Maryland schools, on television, and in various concert halls around the world, most recently in Northern Italy. Katherine Heilman is a senior at Baltimore Lutheran High School and Zachary Silberschlag, 16, is a student at St. Mary’s and is a member of the college orchestra. The concert includes Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5 and Rimsky-Korskov’s Russian Easter Overture.
At intermission, high school artists from Leonardtown High School will receive scholarship awards from the St. Mary’s County Arts Council and the Board of County Commissioners. They are Erich Engel, Melanie Dyson, and Theodore James Kopsidas Pugh.
The goal of the River Concert Series is to assist in enhancing the region and cultivating a cultural tourist destination by organizing arts and historical offerings. With that in mind, the Concert Series, with the Chesapeake Orchestra partnering with the St. Mary’s County Arts Council, is announcing a Youth Concerto Competition for advanced high school musicians. Winners receive scholarships and a chance to perform in next year’s Concert Series. Applications will be available Sept. 1.
For more information, visit the River Concert Series Web site at www.riverconcertseries.com.