Side by Side Concert March 1, 2010

Littleton Youth Symphony

A Unique Youth Orchestra Experience

Sarah Richardson, Artistic Director

The Littleton Youth Symphony with the Colorado Chamber Orchestra conducted by Thomas Blomster, presents a Side by Side Concert at 7:00 p.m., Monday, March 1 at St. Luke's United Methodist Church, 8817 South Broadway, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129. Admission is free. A reception will follow. Call 303-800-4597 or visit www.littletonyouthsymphony.org for more information.

This season’s Side by Side Concert pairs students with professional players for an exploration into classic and contemporary hymns, folk tunes and dances. Our annual arts event enables students to perform at an extremely high level for friends, family and the community. The program includes Folk Tune and Fiddle Dance by Percy Fletcher, Hymn by Charles Ives, Clapping Music by Steve Reich, In C by Terry Rily, Canon in D by Johann Pachelbel and Kashmir by Led Zeppelin.

Thomas Blomster has led the following ensembles on the podium: the Colorado Springs Philharmonic, the Denver Chamber Orchestra, the Mostly Strauss Orchestra, the Boulder Brass, and was founder and Music Director of the Mercury Ensemble for eleven years. He was Assistant Conductor for the Junior Symphony Guild’s educational programs “Inside the Orchestra” and “Tiny Tots” for ten years.
He studied with John Galm, Professor of Percussion at the University of Colorado in Boulder through high school, and at the age of fourteen was accepted to the prestigious Aspen Music School to study with Charles Owen, principal percussionist with the Philadelphia Orchestra for 18 years under Maestro Eugene Ormandy. Mr. Owen saw fit to assign Thomas the gong part on Mr. Copland’s famous Fanfare for the Common Man, with Copland conducting as a part of the PBS special. In addition to working with Aaron Copland he also worked and studied with Elliot Carter, Krystof Penderecki, and members of the New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, and the San Francisco Symphony.


LYS Artistic Director Sarah Richardson said, “This orchestra is unique because students get to play in coached string quartets, perform a side by side concert with professional musicians and experiment with improvisation. No other orchestra does that. The goal of our varied programs is to show students that music offers them limitless possibilities.” Richardson is a member of the Hausmusik Quartet of Colorado Springs, the Colorado Springs Philharmonic and is Principal Violist of the Colorado Chamber Orchestra and the Mercury Ensemble. Sarah has been a member of the Central City Opera Orchestra since 2001. Ms. Richardson also performs with the Colorado Symphony, the Colorado Ballet and Inside the Orchestra. In addition to her performing schedule, she maintains a private studio in Highlands Ranch.

The Littleton Youth Symphony was founded in 2004 to offer a non-competitive educational and community service-minded program for music students. This unique youth orchestra offers a tremendous variety of music programs for string players including chamber orchestra, coached string quartets, training orchestra for beginning string students, annual Side by Side Concert with professional musicians, annual Improvisation Clinic and many opportunities for community service performance.

PSA/Listing Information

The Littleton Youth Symphony - Side by Side Concert with the Colorado Chamber Orchestra - Monday, March 1 at 7:00 p.m. St. Luke's United Methodist Church, 8817 South Broadway, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129. Admission is free. A reception will follow. More info at 303-800-4597 or www.littletonyouthsymphony.org