GBSYO Will Perform ‘An American Salute’

BRIDGEPORT — “An American Salute” is the theme of the Greater Bridgeport Symphony Youth Orchestras’ (GBSYO) winter concert, scheduled for Sunday, February 13. The concert will begin at 3 pm at Klein Memorial Auditorium.

Fourteen students from Newtown and Sandy Hook will be among those performing in the concert. The students are Christopher Benson, James Dellasala, Geoff DiBeneditto, Gordon Johnson, Nicole Kaza, Emily Koh, Kari Levinson, Alison Lones, Kaitlin McDow, John Pantan, Kristen Provost, Michael Rostafin, Heather Snow, and Ben Snyder.

The GBSYO Principal Orchestra will perform a program of music written entirely by American composers. The Symphony, Concert and String Orchestras will each present one American work.

American baritone Thomas Woodman will narrate the final section of the moving Lincoln Portrait by Aaron Copland. Written during World War II, the first section is purely orchestral as Copland attempts to capture Lincoln’s mysterious sense of fatality.

In the middle section, Copland uses music of Lincoln’s time, including two folk tunes, “Springfield Mountain” and “Camptown Races.” The final section serves as a musical framework for the President’s own words.

The 240 members of the four orchestras of the GBSYO represent 22 Connecticut communities. The members, in grades 3 through 12, were selected by competitive auditions in September.

Tickets to the concert are $9 for adults, $7 for students and senior citizens. For ticket and general information, call Barb Upton at 203/452-0003. Klein Auditorium is at 910 Fairfield Avenue.