Lauren Baron
BRANT NEWS

With a mix of Beethoven, Mozart and a little Lady Gaga, Brant’s youth are showing off their talent.

“We put together the best of what young people have to offer,” said Celebrate Our Youth concert emcee Joann Alho.

The Little String Orchestra, Brant Youth Symphony Orchestra and Paris District High School band have teamed up to present Celebrate Our Youth on Sunday, March 3, beginning at 3 p.m. at New Covenant Congregational Church.

“I think if people actually see what is on offer, they are going to be amazed,” Alho said.

The junior Little String Orchestra, conducted by Tina Labanowicz, will perform Matilda Learns to Waltz, The Waltzing Cat and Chilli Salsa, while the senior Little String Orchestra, conducted by Virgina Little, will perform Zampa Overture by Ferdinand Herold, Eine Kleine Nachtmusik by Mozart and the Holberg Suite by Edvard Grieg.

Mixing up classics with modern hits, the Brant Youth Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Deb McLoughlin, will perform Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5, Lady Gaga’s Born This Way and an arrangement of Journey’s greatest hits.

The PDHS set list has yet to be announced.

The orchestras will join together to perform John Williams’ theme from Jurassic Park and the Thunder and Lightning Polka by Johann Strauss.

“When people come to the concert they are going to be amazed by the diversity in terms of the music they are going to hear and by the talent they are going to see in front of them and they are going to be glad they live in a city so rich with music,” Alho said.

The annual concert was conceived 12 years ago as an opportunity to bring together youth music groups from across Brant. Over the years, local high schools and private music programs have had the opportunity to showcase their sounds.

“Literally, it was to celebrate the talent that is in this city because we have excellent music programs running in all the high schools,” Alho said. “I’m 
in awe of them. You don’t have to travel to Toronto, Kitchener, Waterloo, we have tons of great opportunities here.”

Tickets to see Celebrate Our Youth cost $15 for adults, $5 for students and seniors.