The Tucson Symphony Orchestra got a world-class endorsement for its Young Composers Project from none other than Yo-Yo Ma.
The renowned cellist, fresh from a sold-out performance of Dvorák's Cello Concerto with conductor George Hanson and the Tucson Symphony Orchestra on Saturday, gushed that "in all my years of working with symphony orchestras, I have never encountered such an extraordinary program," according to people who attended the backstage post-concert reception with the cellist and donors.
"How many of you are familiar with this program?" he asked, according to those who attended. When everyone in the room raised his or her hand, he laughed and said, "I see I'm preaching to the choir!"
The project, under the leadership of Ilona Vukovic-Gay, 25-year TSO veteran and assistant principal violist, teaches 12 to 18 students in elementary school through high school how to compose classical music. The program, which spans the school year, focuses on music theory and composition, and it culminates with the TSO's performing a public reading of the students' works. This year's reading will be held May 14 and 15, 2010.
Since it began in 1993, the Young Composers Project has introduced nearly 150 works by young composers. In 2007, Nicholas Mariscal became the first participant to have an original work programmed into a TSO subscription concert.
Ma met with the 14 participants of this year's program earlier Saturday, and he recounted how one youngster told him he paints before starting to write his music. Another told Ma he hears scores in his head while reading a book.
At the donor reception, Ma, the world's most recognized classical musician, said he intends to stay in touch with the Young Composers Project.
"Yo-Yo did a form of leveling the playing field so that by the time the session broke up, every one of those kids was completely comfortable talking to him," said Susan Franano, TSO executive director, who was attended the composers session with Vukovic-Gay. "Ultimately, those of us in the background had completely disappeared for the kids - it was just them and Yo-Yo having a discussion about the elements of human creativity that exist in every human and what the kids do to make their ideas into music and how they keep themselves grounded. But I can tell you that not one of those kids was touching the ground when they walked out the door."
The Tucson Arizona Mass Choir has canceled its Dec. 20 Christmas concert due to the illness of director Dorothy Reid, according to a written release.
• "Harps and Angels" - Stevie Eller Dance Theatre, 1737 E. University Blvd. UA HarpFusion and the Southern Arizona Women's Chorus perform in a holiday concert. 7:30 p.m. today. $15; free for age 6 and under. 621-1162. The concert repeats at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Ascension Lutheran Church, 1220 W. Magee Road.
• Musica Sonora Presents: "An Old World Christmas" - St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, 545 S. Fifth Ave. Professional singers join an instrumental ensemble performing English carols and other seasonal delights. Also, Christmas music from the 13th to the 17th century. 7:30 p.m. today and 3 p.m. Sunday. $15; discounts available. 628-8119.
• László Veres Amphitheater Dedication and Holiday Extravaganza - Udall Park, 7200 E. Tanque Verde Road. A dedication for László Veres, Arizona Symphonic Winds creator and conductor, featuring a mini-holiday concert by the Arizona Symphonic Winds, along with Tucson City Councilman Rodney Glassman and Bobby Rich of 94.9 Mix-FM. 1-3 p.m. Saturday. Free. 791-4687.
• Tucson Cello Congress - Tucson High Magnet School, 400 N. Second Ave. Daylong festival for cellists with master classes, workshops and cello ensemble concerts. Guest artists include Xiao-Dan Zheng, Tucson Symphony Orchestra principal cellist, and Mark Votapek, University of Arizona graduate student. Must be 8 or older. 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday. $20. 307-5390.
• "Delicacies Fit for a King" - Canyon del Oro Baptist Church, 9200 N. Oracle Road. Presented by the Wieck Chamber Singers and Orchestra. 6:45 p.m. Sunday. Free. 682-9544.
• "An Evening in December" - Catalina United Methodist Church, 2700 E. Speedway. Choral and orchestral carol arrangements that include the music of Rutter and Mendelssohn performed by choirs of the sacred-music department at Catalina UMC, directed and produced by Jonathan Ng. 4:30-5:45 p.m. Sunday. Freewill offering accepted. 327-4296.
• Pima Community College Chorale and College Singers Holiday Concert - PCC West Campus Center for the Arts Proscenium Theatre, 2202 W. Anklam Road. Program selections include Christmas Cantata by Daniel Pinkham. Directed by Benjamin Sorenson.3-4 p.m. Sunday. $6; discounts available. 206-6986.
• "Sing We Joy!" - Benedictine Monastery, 800 N. Country Club Road. The Arizona Repertory Singers present their holiday program, which includes traditional English carols, sacred Renaissance works, and contemporary and international music. 3-5 p.m. Sunday. $12; discounts available. 792-8141.
• Tucson Symphony Orchestra and Chorus present Handel's "Messiah" - Catalina Foothills High School, 4300 E. Sunrise Drive. Bruce Chamberlain will conduct the TSO and TSO Chorus in the MasterWorks Chamber Orchestra special. 8 p.m. today and Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday. $30-$40, www.tucson symphony.org 882-8585.
• UA Faculty/Staff Choir holiday concert - First United Methodist Church, 915 E. Fourth St. A volunteer musical ensemble performs Vivaldi's Gloria and other selections. 3-4:30 p.m. Sunday. Free. 318-0746.
• Sonoran Bells Friends and Family holiday concert - St. Alban's Episcopal Church, 3738 N. Old Sabino Canyon Road. Hand-bell ensemble performs holiday selections. 7-8 p.m. Tuesday. Freewill donation. 419-6768.
• 12th Annual Holiday Concert: Benefit for the Community Food Bank - Berger Center for Performing Arts. Sons of Orpheus and students from the Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and the Blind perform. 7 p.m. Wednesday. Donation of a nonperishable food item or cash. 621-1649.
• Tucson Junior Strings perform winter concert (Page C1).
• "Hello Gorgeous" features longtime Tucson singer Dayna Wagner (Page C1).
Cathalena E. Burch
