Some 80 talented young musicians from Rochester, New York State, will give a concert at the Castalia Hall, Ballytobin, in aid of the Ballytobin Camphill Community in Callan.
The Hochstein Youth Symphony Orchestra is visiting Kilkenny as part of an eight-day tour of Ireland. The musicians are aged 14 to 20 years and will present a programme of well-known classics including works by Aaron Copland, George Gershwin, John Williams, and Antonin Dvorak.
The musicians are all students of the Hochstein School of Music and Drama in Rochester, New York State. The school has some 3,000 students.
The orchestra is visiting Ireland on a concert tour which covers from Galway city to Dublin. Every student has raised more than $3,000 to participate in the tour. They will receive no payment in exchange for their performances.
During their eight-day visit the orchestra will give four concerts. In addition to Castalia Hall concert the orchestra will perform in Galway city, Killarney, and Bray. Each performance is given in aid of a charity.
Under the direction of Nancy Pettersen Strelau, Hochstein Youth Symphony Orchestra made its first performance tour in 2001, travelling and performing in Vienna, Graz, Innsbruck and Salzburg, Austria. The orchestra made its Carnegie Hall debut in New York City in April 2002. HYSO has continued to tour, performing concerts in France, Germany, Czech Republic, Italy, and Switzerland. It will be the first time the orchestra has visited Ireland.
“We are delighted to share our music with the people of Kilkenny,” commented musical director Nancy Streulau.
“The students have all worked hard to be on this trip and we hope that we will raise a good sum for Ballytobin Camphill Community,” she continued.
The concert promises to be a wonderful event and all are welcome to attend. It takes place on Tuesday April 19 at 8pm. Tickets are available on the door for just €5 or from John Clark (Castalia Hall ) on phone 087 0505669. All proceeds go to the Ballytobin Camphill Community.
The programme includes: ‘Simple Gifts & Hoedown from Rodeo’ - Aaron Copland; ‘Allegro non troppo’ (Symphony No 9, New World )- Antonin Dvorak; ‘Porgy and Bess’ - George Gershwin; ‘Harry Potter Symphonic Suite’ - John Williams; and ‘Hoedown’ - Hayman.
