Youth Orchestra

Youth Orchestra Young people may not flock to classical music concerts in droves, but, fortunately, a whole bunch of talented students still want to express themselves through classical music. Conservatories and college music departments have yet to report any drop-off in applications for admission. And a lot of those applicants developed their interest in the art form through participation in youth orchestras. For a prime example of how such ensembles can benefit students - and how accomplished the results can be - don't miss the finale to the Greater Baltimore Youth Orchestra Association's 27th season.

A program of opera favorites being performed on the Maryland Hall stage is hardly news. What is out of the ordinary is that the accompanying ensemble will be the talented young musicians of the Chesapeake Youth Symphony Orchestra. For the first time, the CYSO will be an opera orchestra, says Julien Benichou, the French-born, Baltimore-based conductor in his first year as music director of one of Maryland's premiere youth orchestras. "I think it's very nice for kids to accompany singers," Benichou says.

A program of opera favorites being performed on the Maryland Hall stage is hardly news. What is out of the ordinary is that the accompanying ensemble will be the talented young musicians of the Chesapeake Youth Symphony Orchestra. For the first time, the CYSO will be an opera orchestra, says Julien Benichou, the French-born, Baltimore-based conductor in his first year as music director of one of Maryland's premiere youth orchestras. "I think it's very nice for kids to accompany singers," Benichou says.

When David Choo decided to end his five-year tenure as conductor of the Chesapeake Youth Symphony Orchestra last season, the music world took notice. Fifty-two conductors from 21 states and three foreign countries (Britain, Italy and Austria) submitted applications to the orchestra's search committee for the job of conducting one of Maryland's premier young people's orchestras, said Robert Posten, a professional trombonist and CYSO parent who headed the group. The committee selected Julien Benichou, a French-born maestro who has trained under of Gustav Meier of Baltimore's Peabody Institute, one of the world's most renowned nurturers of young conducting talent.

Judging from the results of Friday evening's Spring Gala Concert presented by the Chesapeake Youth Symphony Orchestra, conductor David Choo is presiding over a flexible and expressive ensemble. Taking center stage at this Maryland Hall program of works by Saint-Saens, Grieg, Mussorgsky, and Tchaikovsky was the string section, which delivered eloquent, emotionally engaged playing in challenging repertoire. The flutes, oboes, clarinets and trumpets among the players, ages 8 to 18, acquitted themselves well in music notable for its diversity.

MUSIC PLAYS AN integral part in the life of Liberty High School junior Leslie Dragan. Leslie, 16, is involved with the Liberty High School String Quintet, the All State Senior Orchestra and the Greater Baltimore Youth Orchestra. She combines these commitments with private lessons on three instruments - piano, violin and viola, focusing mostly on the viola. She practices an hour a day on the viola, then divides the rest of her practice time between the piano and violin. Her mother, Valentina, attributes Leslie's love for music to Kay Tippett, the instrumental music teacher at Sykesville Middle School.

It's easy to worry about the prospects for classical music, but when an organization such as the Greater Baltimore Youth Orchestra comes into view, things look quite promising. This ensemble, made up of top high school and college students from all over the region, has been going strong since 1977. The GBYO, which is heading to Kanagawa, Japan, in June for performances, will give a concert this afternoon conducted by Jason Love. Also participating will be its subsidiary group for intermediate students, the Greater Baltimore Youth Concert Strings, conducted by Mary Poling.

Sailing open house Despite what you may think, sailing is not just for the idle rich. Not at the Downtown Sailing Center, anyway. The nonprofit organization offers affordable sailing lessons, sailing camps and memberships to people of all ages and skill levels. And you don't even need to own your own boat. Saturday, the center holds an open house featuring free introductory sails, tours of the center and an opportunity for visitors to learn about the center's offerings. A second open house takes place June 3. The Downtown Sailing Center has more than 30 boats, including J/22s, JY 15s and Australian 10 Access Sailing Dinghies for disabled sailors.

My fondest hope is that the youngsters of the Chesapeake Youth Symphony Orchestra go on to enjoy many, many years of top-flight music-making after they "graduate" from the local ensemble. But if they do, I doubt they'll play with a pianist any more giving both musically and personally than Brian Ganz, who played Beethoven's G major Piano Concerto with them at Saturday's "Gala Spring Concert" at Maryland Hall. Ganz, the Annapolis-based concert pianist who is now a full-fledged member of the piano faculty at Baltimore's Peabody Institute, gave us a performance to remember.

Some of Maryland's finest young musicians will come together Saturday evening when the Chesapeake Youth Symphony Orchestra presents its Gala Spring Concert at Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts in Annapolis. The 7 p.m. concert will be led by the orchestra's music director, David Ik-Sung Choo, who will conduct works by Tchaikovsky, Lalo and Beethoven in addition to the "Elegy" composed by Raymond Weidner, composer and choirmaster at Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church in Severna Park. Soloing in the first movement of Edouard Lalo's sultry "Symphonie Espagnole" will be violinist Robert Burnett, 17, of Bowie, winner of this season's Chesapeake Youth Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition.