Sussex County Youth Orchestra seniors offer high notes

Sussex County - The sounds of season will fill the auditorium of the Newton High School on Sunday June 4, when the Sussex County Youth Orchestra will perform its spring concert. The musical event is scheduled to start at 3 p.m. The orchestra is comprised of three performing groups, beginning with the Rocking Strings, a full strings ensemble with members ranging from age seven to 12. “Students must read music and be taking private music lessons,” said Dawn Tedesco, musical director. The next level is the Preparatory Orchestra, also a strings group, ranging in ages eight through 13. The other level - the Youth Symphony - accepts members as young as 13 through college age. Performing soloists at the June 4 concert are Sparta high school seniors, Kira Newman and Phillip Gallo. Newman, the Concert Mistress and violinist will perform Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso Op. 28 by Camille Saint-Saens. “Music is the only career I see ahead of me,” Newman wrote in a college essay. Newman who has been studying the violin since she was four, plans to attend the Boston Conservatory of Music in the fall. She has studied at the Manhattan School of Music and played with the New Jersey Allstate Orchestra and the Montclair Chamber Ensemble. Gallo, Marimba Soloist, will perform Concertino for Marimba & Orchestra, by Paul Creston. “I have been a percussionist for nine years. Music has been a part of my life since kindergarten when I started playing the piano. My love for music since then has grown with me and I cannot imagine my life without it,” said Gallo. He joined every musical group he could in Sparta high school, and outside of school was accepted in the County Band, Region Band, and the All-State Band. Gallo toured Europe with the SCYO a number of times and was most recently accepted into the Manhattan School of Music Pre-college, and was a member of their Percussion Ensemble and Philharmonic Orchestra. “I am planning on majoring in music while attending SUNY Purchase College. I hope to continue living in my passion for music and become a member of a professional orchestra and perform around the world,” said Gallo. As seniors members of the SCYO Newman and Gallo, who have also been friends throughout their four years in high school, are considered the best in their sections. Newman as concert mistress and Gallo as Principal Percussionist. “They are among the best musicians to come through the program since the orchestra’s inception in 1987,” said Gerry Tedesco, the orchestra conductor and director. For more concert information or questions concerning joining the SYCO please contact Dawn Tedesco, Musical Director at dawns@earthlink.net or visit the Web site dawnscyo@earthlink.net