The Lone Star Youth Orchestra will open its 26^th season on November 6^th with a concert titled “Millennium Mosaic” led by new LSYO conductor Maestro Marvin Garduno.  The hour-long program features Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Fantasia on “Greensleeves” for String Orchestra and Harp, Louis Spohr’s Nonet in F Major, Op. 31, Mikhail Ippolitov-Ivanov’s “Procession of the Sardar” from Caucasian Sketches, Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Dance of the Tumblers” from The Snow Maiden, and Richard Meyer’s award-winning Millennium. 

“Fantasia on Greensleeves” is a lush and evocative arrangement for string orchestra and harp, based on the traditional English folk tune “Greensleeves.”  The piece showcases Williams’ signature pastoral style, blending the serene melody with rich harmonies and gentle textures.  Originally written as an interlude for his opera Sir John in Love, it has become a beloved concert piece known for its elegance and lyrical beauty.

Nonet in F Major, Op. 31, is a masterful chamber work composed for an ensemble of nine instruments, blending strings and winds.  Written in 1813, the piece is celebrated for its rich, lyrical themes and sophisticated interplay among the instruments, reflecting Spohr’s classical roots and early Romantic sensibilities.  With its elegant structure and expressive depth, the Nonet remains one of Spohr’s most enduring contributions to the chamber music repertoire.

“Procession of the Sardar” from Caucasian Sketches is a bold and dramatic piece that evokes the grandeur and majesty of a royal procession.  Merle J. Isaac’s arrangement for string orchestra preserves the powerful rhythms and exotic harmonies of the original, making it accessible to younger ensembles while retaining its rich orchestral textures.  The piece features driving energy and dynamic contrasts.

“Dance of the Tumblers” from The Snow Maiden is a lively, fast-paced orchestral piece known for its energetic rhythms and vibrant character.  Sandra Dackow’s arrangement for string orchestra captures the exhilarating momentum of the original, making it accessible for student ensembles while maintaining its dynamic flair.  The piece offers a thrilling showcase of technical agility and musical excitement.

Millennium won the 1998 N.S.O.A. composition contest.  This contemporary-sounding overture is extremely powerful and full of emotion from beginning to end.  After a foreboding introduction, the heroic main theme is introduced by the brass section in unison, accompanied by the entire orchestra in a percussive, marcato style.  A lyrical subordinate theme of extreme beauty follows, first stated by unison cellos, then picked up by the entire orchestra.  The third and final section is a wild and energetic march, pitting brass against woodwinds and strings, leading into a final, majestic restatement of the main theme.  Richard Meyer’s colorful and imaginative scoring features every section of the symphony orchestra, resulting in a wonderfully mature-sounding, yet playable, “tour de force” for the student orchestra.

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.