Spokane Youth Symphony brings ‘Treasures’ to the Fox

The members of the Spokane Youth Symphony will be performing musical treasures Sunday afternoon.

The organization’s first concert of the year features works by J.S. Bach, Camille Saint-Saens, Richard Wagner and Leonard Bernstein.

The concert’s title is “Treasures,” and Jennifer O’Bannan, the symphony’s head of operations, said that could mean a lot of different things.

“Musical treasure I think would be the first interpretation,” she said. Another is that “all these children are treasures.”

The Spokane Youth Symphony is made up of four groups: Spokane Youth Strings, Spokane Youth Sinfonietta, Spokane Youth Philharmonic and Spokane Youth Symphony Orchestra.

“It really is an opportunity for kids who are going sort of above and beyond what is typical in a school setting,” O’Bannan said.

The younger players are in the strings group. The philharmonic is the beginning level for full orchestra, with woodwinds, brass and percussion added to the strings. The symphony orchestra has the most-advanced players.

“It’s really a gathering of kids who have kind of a similar focus,” she said. Most are taking private lessons and are involved in school instrument programs.

“It gives them a chance to rise to higher levels,” both through the work with the full group and working in sectionals with professional players.

“The upper orchestra plays full-blown symphonic pieces,” O’Bannan said. “They’re the cream of the crop instrumental kids in the area.”

Kimberly Lusk

When: 4 p.m. Sunday

Where: Martin Woldson Theater at the Fox, 1001 W. Sprague Ave.

Tickets: $12-$16, available at the Fox box office, by calling (509) 624-1200 or at www.ticketswest.com

Coming up: The Spokane Youth Symphony will have three more concerts this year: “Passione” on Feb. 21, “The Colorful Orchestra” on April 24, and “Musical Giants” on May 15.

Info: www.spokaneyouthsymphony.org