The Lone Star Youth Orchestra concludes its 26^th season on May 21^st with a concert titled “Melodic Treasures”.  This hour-long program features Camille Saint-Saëns’ Marche Militaire Francaise from Suite Algerienne, Op. 60, Johann Sebastian Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, BWV 565, Elliot Del Borgo’s Danse Infernal, Georges Bizet’s Farandole from L’Arlésienne Suite, No. 2, and Klaus Badelt’s Medley from Pirates of the Caribbean.  As an added treat, the winners of our annual LSYO Concerto Competition will each be playing their pieces with the orchestra.  First Place winner Ariana Velazquez will perform Dmitri Kabalevsky’s Violin Concerto in C Major, Op. 48 (II) and Second Place winner Nico Ramé will play Antonio Vivaldi’s Bassoon Concerto in A Minor, RV 498 (III). 

Marche Militaire Française is a spirited and triumphant march that exudes French military grandeur.  Originally composed for orchestra as the final movement of Suite Algérienne, this piece showcases Saint-Saëns’ gift for brilliant orchestration, lively rhythms, and memorable melodies. 

Toccata and Fugue is one of Bach’s most famous organ compositions, recognized for its dramatic and powerful opening motif.  Likely composed in the early 18^th century, this baroque masterpiece blends free-flowing, improvisatory toccata sections with a meticulously structured fugue. 

The Bassoon Concerto in A Minor is a shining example of Vivaldi’s virtuosic and expressive writing for this instrument. The third movement, marked Allegro, is lively and energetic, filled with rapid passages, playful exchanges between the soloist and orchestra, and Vivaldi’s signature rhythmic drive.  This movement highlights both the bassoon’s agility and its warm, resonant tone.  The soloist navigates swift runs and dynamic contrasts in this exhilarating showpiece.

Danse Infernale is an intense and rhythmically driven work that captures a sense of urgency and drama.  Through bold harmonies and intricate textures, Del Borgo creates a piece filled with relentless energy and powerful momentum. 

The Violin Concerto in C Major is the first of three instrumental concertos composed by Kabalevsky during the late 1940s and early 1950s and dedicated to the Soviet youth.  The Andante cantabile second movement is in three clear sections; when the “A” music, with its steadily plodding accompaniment and interesting harmonic twists, returns at the end, the soloist abandons the theme to the orchestra and takes up a flowing obbligato instead.

Farandole is the vibrant final movement of Bizet’s L’Arlésienne Suite, No. 2, arranged after his death by his friend Ernest Guiraud.  The piece fuses two contrasting melodies: the traditional Provençal Christmas carol March of the Kings and a lively southern French folk dance known as the farandole. 

The medley from Badelt’s Pirates of the Caribbean brings to life the adventurous and swashbuckling spirit of the beloved film series, weaving together some of the most iconic themes from the first movie’s soundtrack, capturing the excitement, mystery, and heroism of the high seas. 

Single tickets are available by visiting IrvingArtsCenter.com, by calling (972) 252-2787, or by purchase at the door.  Ticket prices are $7.50 per student and $14.50 for adults.