Do you hear that? It’s the beautiful sound of a symphony orchestra performing inside an auditorium. It’s a sound we missed last year, even as we celebrated the ability to create new venues and new pathways to stay together as an orchestra.
Now we’re coming back stronger – thanks for coming with us! After a crazy year, the Wichita Falls Youth Symphony Orchestra board and artistic staff took a moment to breathe and find our new focus. We asked, “What did we miss the most last year? And which of the old traditions do we want to breathe new life into?”
Our goal this year is to elevate the orchestra experience for both students and audience members. To drink deeply from the richest traditions of the orchestra and to rededicate ourselves to our core mission of creating music education that leads to exceptional group performances and a lifelong love of music.
We appreciate everyone who plays a role in this journey…from our new Music Director Dr. Luttrell and new conductor Mrs. Liticker who guide the artistic vision, to our coaches and administrative staff who keep the wheels turning, and the schools who partner with us to give Gail Key Academy of Music students access to strings education during the school day. From the civic clubs that invite us to share our story and the businesses who support the programs through sponsorships and advertising messages, to the parents and friends who attend concerts and make individual gifts. We all have parts to play in this orchestra, and the traditions live on inside us all. More than 150 music students from 20 area schools depend on us.
On behalf of our YSO board, thank you for choosing to journey with us. Now let’s all lean back in our chairs and revel in the beautiful sounds these students have poured themselves into creating. Bravo!
Dana Taylor
YSO Board Chair
Philharmonic Orchestra
Kathy Liticker, conductor
Jolly Old St Nicholas
American Traditional Carol
Good King Wenceslas
Old English Carol
Up On the Housetop
BR Hanby
Two Horse Open Sleigh
Nutcracker March
Tschaikowski
Philharmonic Violin Ensemble
Amanda Hernandez, coach
Festive Strings Violin Quartets arranged by Joanne Martin
- Dreydl (Traditional)
- We Three Kings (John H. Hopkins)
- Jingle Bells (James Pierpont)
Stringsemble
Barbara Kavanaugh, coach
A Little Christmas Overture
Arr. John Edmondson
Wexford Carol
Arr. Anne McGinty
Two Joyous Chorales
J.S. Bach/Anne McGinty
Symphonic Orchestra
Dr. Matthew Luttrell, conductor
Christmas Festival
Leroy Anderson
Hungarian Dance No. 5
Johannes Brahms
Sleigh Ride
Leroy Anderson
Symphonic and Philharmonic Orchestras combined
Silver Bells
Arr. Phillip Gordon
