This Sunday, April 27, the Lake Michigan Youth Orchestra (LMYO) will take the stage at the Howard Performing Arts Center on the campus of Andrews University for its annual Spring Concert. The performance begins at 3:00 p.m. and will showcase a dynamic blend of familiar favorites and fresh new works, including the world premiere of Draco Somnolentus, an original composition written especially for the orchestra by local composer and LMYO parent Kris Zook.
The program includes beloved pieces such as Can-Can from Orpheus, Hans Zimmer’s Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End, and Pachelbel’s timeless Canon in D. Audiences can expect a lively and inspiring afternoon of music performed by LMYO’s talented young musicians.
The concert features performances by the Encore Strings, Concert Strings, and Youth Orchestra ensembles, as well as a special appearance by student soloist Braden Miesse, a cellist and pianist whose impressive resume includes the St. Joseph High School Chamber Orchestra, the Michigan All-State Orchestra, and the Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra (SMSO). Miesse plans to pursue music studies at the University of Michigan.
Conductors Beth Oeseburg and Rachel Cabanilla-Sinnett will lead the strings ensembles, with Burke Lokey, SMSO’s Education Director, conducting the Youth Orchestra.
Before and after the concert, guests are invited to explore the SMSO’s silent auction fundraiser in the lobby. The auction includes a variety of unique items that celebrate local artistry and community spirit. Bidding will continue online through the SMSO’s upcoming May 17 concert, Symphony: Unexpected, which will feature a collaborative side-by-side performance with LMYO students.
Tickets are available at www.smso.org or at the door: $10 for adults, $5 for youth ages 6–17, and free for children 5 and under.
About the Lake Michigan Youth Orchestra
Founded in 1978 as the Twin Cities Junior Symphony, the Lake Michigan Youth Orchestra (LMYO) offers young musicians from across southwest Michigan and northern Indiana the opportunity to gain orchestral experience in a supportive, educational environment. A program of the Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra, LMYO now serves over 100 students from more than 15 schools and homeschool programs. Many current members are second-generation, continuing a proud tradition of youth music excellence.
About the Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra
Since 1951, the Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra has enriched the region’s cultural landscape with outstanding performances and vibrant educational initiatives. Committed to community engagement and artistic excellence, the SMSO connects audiences of all ages through the power of music.
