The San Luis Obispo Youth Symphony will soon embark on a tour to Los Angeles and Chicago, where the young musicians will learn, explore and perform.
This unique opportunity begins on Friday, June 21, with a drive to the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. The SLO Youth Symphony will join the Fresno Youth Orchestra and Summer Academy to perform Khachaturian’s “Spartacus” as part of the West Coast Youth Orchestra Festival, presented by Music Celebrations International. The free concert begins at 8 p.m.
From Los Angeles, the SLO Youth Symphony will fly to Chicago to perform in collaboration with Hyde Park Youth Symphony and the Ravenswood Community Orchestra at the Reva and David Logan Center for Arts at the University of Chicago on Monday, June 24 at 7:30 p.m. This concert is also free to the public and no tickets are needed to attend.
This tour is made possible by parents and donations from community members to the San Luis Obispo Symphony, a nonprofit organization whose purpose is to support an outstanding community orchestra, to foster symphonic and chamber music education, and to contribute to the cultural and economic vitality of the Central Coast.
Other items on the Chicago itinerary include a workshop with Milwaukee Youth Symphony Music Director Margery Deutsch, a Chicago Symphony performance, an open rehearsal for the Grant Park Festival at the stunning Gehry-designed Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park, an architectural cruise and other sight-seeing and fun activities.
Founded in 1968 by Dr. Wachtang “Botso” Korisheli and staffed by conductors and coaches with extensive experience, the SLO Youth Symphony provides opportunities for young musicians to develop their skills through symphonic and chamber music training. The SLO Youth Symphony is part of the SLO Symphony’s broad music education program and is the only opportunity between Santa Barbara and Monterey for school-age musicians to receive full orchestral training.
Programs like these are made possible by donations to the SLO Symphony. To make a donation in support of the SLO Youth Symphony’s tour, contact SLO Symphony Development Director Leslie McKinley at (805) 543-3533, ext. 14, or visit the website here to make a donation online.