Youth orchestra kicks off 50th year

The Northern Ohio Youth Orchestra’s Fall Concert, which kicks off the organization’s’ 50th anniversary season, is at 3:30 p.m. Oct. 28 at the Lorain Palace Theater.

NOYO has grown continuously throughout its 50-year history: 185 young musicians will participate in performing ensembles this year, up from 157 musicians last year, and the largest class size to date. The concert will highlight four ensembles, the Amati Strings for beginning string players; the Wind Symphony for intermediate wind and brass instrument players; the Sinfonietta Strings for intermediate string players; and the Philharmonia Orchestra, an advanced symphonic orchestra.

The repertoire for the Fall Concert includes music by Dvorak, Suppe, and Respighi, as well as fun Halloween-inspired tunes like Gargoyles (Doug Spata) Zombie Tango (James Meredith ), Headless Horseman (John Prescott) and Ghostbusters (arranged by Michael Story). To close the concert, all NOYO students will join together onstage to perform the finale of Respighi’s “Pines of Rome,” as arranged by Stephen Bulla.

The organization remains committed to making meaningful musical experiences accessible to all young musicians. This year, the organization has distributed more than $14,500 in scholarship funds. Roughly one in three NOYO students receives financial aid.

Tickets are available at www.noyo.org or at the door. General admission door prices are $10, $7 for seniors, and $5 for students. Children 3-yearsold and under are free of charge.

For more information, visit noyo.org or call 440775-3059.