GBYO To Perform Winter Concert On February 12

BRIDGEPORT — The Greater Bridgeport Youth Orchestras (GBYO) will perform its first concert of 2006 on Sunday, February 12, at 3 pm, at The Klein Memorial Auditorium. The concert will feature performances by all four ensembles that make up the GBYO.

As a special attraction at this performance the Principal Orchestra will be graced by solo performances from two Fairfield County prodigies. Featured in “Quiet City” by Aaron Copland will be Zebediah Upton, a GBYO alumnus, on trumpet and John Hanulik, Jr, a graduate of Staples High School, on English horn.

Both of these musicians have gone on to make important careers in music since leaving the area. Mr Upton has accumulated numerous awards and honors during his music career, and currently serves as principal trumpet with Beijing Symphony Orchestra.

Mr Hanulik, Jr performs regularly with Greater Bridgeport Symphony, Norwalk Symphony Orchestra and Bermuda Symphony Orchestra.

“We are thrilled and delighted to welcome these two talented musicians to the GBYO,” said Robert Genualdi, music director of the orchestras. “Zeb and John have become important members of the international music community. It is a great honor to have them perform with us.”

The program for the February 12 concert features a wide range of musical offerings. The “Allegro” from Symphony No. 10 in G Major by Mozart will be performed by the  String Orchestra, directed by Carrie Mascaro.

The Concert Orchestra, under the direction of Dorothy Straub, will perform Handel and Brahms.

The Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Howard Hsu, will offer Mozart again and the Waltz from Sleeping Beauty” by Tchaikovsky.

The Principal Orchestra, under the baton of Maestro Genualdi, will perform a program of Shostakovich’s “Prelude,” “Opus 34,” No. 14, “Wedding of Lieutenant Kije” and selections from The New World by Dvorak.

The GBYO is comprised of over 250 young musicians from 30 towns in the greater Bridgeport area who range in age from 10 to 18 years. The four ensembles are designed to give all students the opportunity to perform at their own skill level.

Ticket prices are $12 for adults and $10 for students and senior, and may be purchased at the Klein Auditorium box office after 2 pm on the day of the performance or by contacting GBYO executive director Barbara Upton at 203-459-4249.

For additional information about the orchestras visit the website at www.GBYO.org.