Young musicians play in the holidays

Sparta — The Sussex County Youth Orchestras, under the musical direction of Gerald and Dawn Tedesco, will perform their annual Holiday Concert on Sunday, Dec. 4 at 3 p.m. at Sparta High School. The concert is free and is handicapped accessible. The program will include The Suzuki Strings, The Rocking Strings, The Preparatory Orchestra and the Youth Orchestra that involves over 135 students from Sussex County and the surrounding tri-county area. This musical celebration will begin with the youngest string players, ages 6 through 12, performing traditional folk and classical pieces. It will progress through each ensemble climaxing with the Youth Orchestra, which will perform original concert works including Leonard Bernstein’s "Overture to Candide," "Kirkpatrick Fanfare" and the Overture to Zampa by L.J. Herold. Local musicians shine The Youth Orchestra, whose members range in age from 13 through college age, is a full symphony orchestra that includes strings, winds and percussion instruments. Violinist Barbara Wolfe of Branchville,, a senior at Veritas Christian Academy, will be featured, performing the 2nd movement of William Walton’s Concerto for Viola." She has recently performed with the New Jersey All-State Orchestra in Atlantic City and at the NJPAC in Newark and she was selected to perform with the American String Teachers Association National High School Honors Orchestra at their national convention in March. She is currently the Principal Violist at the Manhattan School of Music Pre-College Philharmonic Orchestra. For more information about the Sussex County Youth Orchestras, visit SCYO.org.