February 2010 – Music Unites Youth Choir performs Viva la Vida. Music Director: Deepak Marwah. The Music Unites Youth Choir is a free after-school program for NYC public high school students and is presented by Young Audiences New York – NYC’s largest arts education provider to the public schools. For more information on Young Audiences New York or the Music Unites Youth Choir – please visit www.yany.org

Promo of the Asia America Youth Orchestra, conducted by David Benoit. Uploaded on behalf of the Asia America Symphony Association, www.asiaamericasymphony.org.

Benjamin Zander leads the New England Conservatory Youth Philharmonic Orchestra in Barber’s Adagio for Strings at Boston’s September 11 memorial concert. “Samuel Barber’s Adagio for Strings followed. Passion was held in check for some time, but when it came, Zander and his players didn’t stint. The desired catharsis was fully achieved.” -David Weininger, Boston Globe

Sonic Youth @ United Palace Theatre

This is the Academy Orchestra under the direction of Mr. Russ Berlin. I play the trombone (first chair) which is SILVER!!!! This is an arrangement of Tchaikovsky’s second symphony.

Toccata for Band by Frank Erickson. This is the inaugural concert performance of the Junior Symphonic Wind Orchestra. Garry Clark is conducting. syo.com.au “Toccata for Band” is an extremely popular composition for wind orchestras. The melodic material presented throughout the piece shares many common threads and you will hear how themes are recycled throughout the work. The piece opens with a flourishing woodwind melody that is quickly followed by a dark yet flowing clarinet chorale. Other notable features of the piece are the numerous time signature changes, which at times gives the piece a sharp and angular feel. The formal elements of this piece are easy to follow with fast and slow sections flowing comfortably into each other. Frank Erickson was born in Spokane, Washington, USA in 1923. He began playing the piano at the age of eight and trumpet at ten, and wrote his first concert piece while still in high school. Erickson studied at the University of Washington until he joined the US Army Corps where he served as a weather forecaster and wrote arrangements for the band. In the following years, he attended USC and received his MM in 1951. Erickson has been on the faculty of UCLA and San Jose State College. He has also served as the music editor for Bourne, Belwin, and G. Schirmer, three major music publishing companies. In 1970 Erickson organized the firm of Summit Publications. He has served as a guest conductor, lecturer, and clinician in over 30 states with …

Little Firefly

Santa at The Symphony as performed by the Youth Orchestra of Palm Beach County Symphony Orchestra. Michael Fraley conducting. 12/18/2011