Youth orchestras to perform works by American composers on Nov. 24

Concert: Youth Honors Orchestras Fall Concert
Date and time: Sunday, Nov. 24, 4 p.m.
Location: Music Center’s Sauder Concert Hall
Cost: $7 adults, $5 seniors/students, available at the door one hour before the concert. GC faculty/staff/students free with ID.

Two Elkhart County youth orchestras will present a fall concert in the Goshen College Music Center’s Sauder Concert Hall on Sunday, Nov. 24. The concert will begin at 4 p.m.

Performing will be the Youth Honors Concert Orchestra (grades 7-9), directed by Katelyn Truscello, and the Youth Honors Symphony Orchestra (grades 9-12), directed by Josh Aerie. Both ensembles are comprised of outstanding Elkhart County string, wind and brass players selected by audition.

The program, titled “Americana,” will feature works by American composers or composers who had connections to America. Works performed include Jay Ungar’s “Ashokan Farewell,” Aaron Copland’s “Fanfare for the Common Man” and Antonín Dvorák’s celebrated “Symphony No. 9 – From the New World.” The string sections from both ensembles will also combine to perform “Folk Tune and Fiddle Dance” by Percy Fletcher.

Tickets are $7 for adults, $5 for seniors/students, available at the door one hour before the concert. Goshen College faculty/staff/students are free with ID.

Originally from Kansas, Katelyn Truscello received her bachelor’s degree in music education and violin performance from the University of Iowa. While there she served as president of the Collegiate Music Educators National Conference chapter. Her professional activities have included working with the West Des Moines Public Schools Community Education Program as a strings instructor and actively providing private instruction in violin, viola and cello in the community. She has also been a substitute teacher in the Des Moines public schools, not only in music and general classes but also in Spanish instruction. Her professional organizations include membership in the Music Educators National Conference and the American String Teachers Association. In addition to the YHO, Truscello is an orchestra director in the Goshen Community Schools.

Josh Aerie, new artistic director and conductor of the Youth Honors Symphony Orchestra, is a sought-after performing and recording cellist, music educator and symphonic conductor. He received his master’s degree in cello performance from the University of Colorado and completed undergraduate studies at Oberlin Conservatory and College (Ohio) in both cello performance and anthropology. As a conductor, Aerie has served as Artistic Director and Conductor of the Mesabi Symphony Orchestra (Minn.), the Red Cedar Symphony Orchestra (Wis.) and the Heartland Symphony Orchestra (Minn.). Aerie’s career highlights include major-label recordings, nationally syndicated television appearances and premiering new works as both conductor and cellist. Aerie was recently appointed as a mentor for the Fischoff National Chamber Music Association and will teach advanced conducting at St. Mary’s College this spring.