The Etowah Youth Orchestras has announced its 2013-2014 concert season. The season, titled “Espíritu y Alma (Spirit and Soul),” will feature music composed by Latin American composers and inspired by the Latin American musical sound.
The music from the concert season was selected to correlate with the EYO’s 2014 tour to Puerto Rico.
”We are excited to be visiting Puerto Rico for two performances in June of 2014,” noted EYO Music Director Mike Gagliardo.
”As a result, we wanted to present a program that will be embraced by both our audiences at home and by audiences hearing our tour performances.”
The EYO’s Fall Formal Concert in November will feature Morton Gould’s “Latin American Symphonette;” the “Danza Final” from “Estancia” by Argentine composer Alberto Ginastera; the Grammy-award-winning single “Smooth” by Santana; and “Danzas Cubanas” by Robert Sheldon.
The concert will also feature Latin-inspired works by American composers Robert Bradshaw and Wendy Snellen, and the 9/11 work originally commissioned by the EYO, “Tribute,” by James Grant.
In December, the EYO will present its annual holiday performance.
“Rock and Roll Christmas has been a staple of the EYO programming for the past several years,” Gagliardo said.
”This year, expect to see a similar program with some different twists. No matter what, it will be a show that people will not want to miss.”
The annual Spring Formal Concert in April will once again have a Latin theme, with music by Shelley Hanson and Jose Padilla.
”We may have something big in the works for next spring as well,” Gagliardo hinted.
“We hope to be making an announcement regarding that very soon, so stay tuned for that!”
Auditions for the 2013-2014 season of the EYO will be held May 14-16 at The Music Center at Temple Beth Israel in downtown Gadsden.
”We will be auditioning for open seats in all of our ensembles,” Gagliardo added.
”Currently we have openings for every instrument in the various groups.
“We are in particular need of string players at all levels, flutes, clarinets, bassoons, baritone saxophones, French horns, trombones, tubas, and pianists. However, there are openings for all instruments.”
Audition information can be found on the EYO website at www.culturalarts.org.
Interested students and parents can also contact the EYO offices at eyo@culturalarts.org or at 256.543.2787, ext. 33.