The Austin Symphony Orchestra is about to end its season, and willdo it by continuing a fairly new tradition.
The Young Artists'Concert will be in Knowlton Auditorium at Austin High School onApril 14 at 2 p.m., and feature solos from two area students.
The students will join the orchestra for the performance afterauditioning, and winning, the fourth Young Artists' Competition, whichis open for students grade 7-12.
"They send out applications and notices in the fall," said MargeDunlap, manager and business coordinator for the Austin SymphonyOrchestra. "Then they audition in January. It's usually two.
They're rewarded by performing in the concert."
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Dunlap, a founding member of the orchestra who retired from playingfour years ago, said there are as many as 14 students in the orchestraduring a given season. The Young Artists' Concert is just another wayto highlight the young talent the area has to offer.
The two students selected were sophomore Ethan Johnson of Austin, andsenior William Cao from Century High School in Rochester. They willjoin the veteran and novice ranks of the orchestra for Sunday'sperformance, performing the pieces they auditioned with.
"It takes a lot of, shall I say guts, to do that," Dunlap said.
The boys were chosen during the audition process by symphony conductorStephen Ramsey. From what he saw in their auditions, the boys shouldhave no problem fitting in with the other musicians.
"They rose to the level of excellence that is rarely heard in a highschool performer," said Ramsey, who will conclude his 19th season withthe orchestra this year. He added it is not only having a uniquecommand of the notes, but the meaning behind them, too.
"Each performer must reveal what the composer was trying to say withthe piece," Ramsey said.
The performance will be followed by a dinner, called "Jazz It Up," atthe Hormel Historic Home in Austin. There will be cocktails at 5p.m., with dinner starting at 6 p.m. The evening will also have a
silent auction with proceeds going to the Austin Symphony Orchestra.Music will set the mood, of course, with several performers includinga 7-year-old boy playing a quarter-sized violin.
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Ticket Information
Tickets for Young Artists' Concert are available at HyVee Food Storeand the Coffee House on Main for $12 in advance. Tickets are $15 atthe door. No charge for kids K-12 if accompanied by an adult.
Tickets for Jazz it Up are also available at HyVee and the CoffeeHouse on Main for $40. Organizers request tickets be purchased byApril 8.
