Louis Scaglione, Conductor
Peter Richard Conte, Organ
Joel Collier, Euphonium
Barber Tocata festiva, Op. 36
Szentpali Symphony Concertante for Euphonium and Symphony Orchestra
Higdon Blue Cathedral
Rachmaninoff Symphonic Dances, Op. 45
Philadelphia Youth Orchestra (PYO) presents the final concert of its 76th anniversary season in Verizon Hall on Sunday, June 5th at 3 p.m. Maestro Louis Scaglione has programmed a concert of works that premiered in Philadelphia. The performance opens with Samuel Barber's Toccata Festiva, featuring guest soloist Peter Richard Conte, Grand Court Organist of the Wanamaker Organ. This work was premiered by The Philadelphia Orchestra in 1960. Next on the program, PYO welcomes Joel Collier, Bravo Brass alumnus, to present the U.S. premiere of Symphony Concertante by Roland Szentpali. This work uniquely features the Euphonium as the solo instrument. After intermission, the orchestra and Maestro Scaglione perform Blue Cathedral, by Pulitzer Prize Winner and Philadelphia-based composer, Jennifer Higdon. This work was premiered by The Curtis Institute of Music's orchestra in 2000. This performance concludes with Rachmaninoff's Symphonic Dances, a work premiered by The Philadelphia Orchestra in 1941.