On Friday, January 6, 2012 the Weston Playhouse will play host to a Festival Concert with the Lakes Region Youth Orchestra and the Green Mountain Youth Orchestra featuring a special guest performance by Elisabeth von Trapp. The concert is an annual event held at a different venue each year in which the two orchestras combine approximately 80 of their top senior high school instrumentalists. This year's concert in Weston will include a 1:00 pm performance for local school children and a 7:00 pm performance to which the community is cordially invited.

Founded in 1990 by a group of enthusiastic parents and teachers, the Lakes Region Youth Orchestra is an after-school orchestral program that rehearses every Friday afternoon during the school year at Castleton State College. Presently over 80 students from mid-elementary through high school age participate in the string, band and choral ensembles. Students come from areas in and around Upstate New York and Central Vermont, including Weston, Manchester, and Rutland.

The Green Mountain Youth Orchestra, under the direction of Ellen Sager, is now in its 24th season. Situated in Bennington Vermont, the orchestra attracts talented musicians in Southern Vermont, Massachusetts and Eastern New York. Musicians of all ages and levels perform in Repertory Strings, Symphonic Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra. The orchestra performs for the public 2-4 times a year and hosts a music camp in the summer.

For Elisabeth von Trapp, "the sounds of music "are part of her earliest memories. Born and raised in Vermont, Elisabeth is the granddaughter of the legendary Maria and Baron von Trapp, whose story inspired The Sound of Music. Singing professionally since childhood, Elisabeth has enthralled audiences from European cathedrals to Washington D.C.'s Kennedy Center, and is a favorite throughout the state of Vermont.

The concert program will include the debut of new work consisting of Robert Frost poetry set to music and scored for orchestra. The lyrics will be sung by Elisabeth von Trapp.

All proceeds are from the concert are being donated to the Weston Community Association to assist with the repair of substantial damages to the Weston Playhouse inflicted by Tropicl Storm Irene in August of 2011.

This event is being produced as a joint effort between the Weston Community Church ("Church on the Hill") and the Lakes Region Youth Orchestra. Concert sponsors include The Puffin Foundation, The Vermont Arts Council in association with the National Endowment for the Arts, Vermont Arts Endowment Fund of the Vermont Community Foundation, OMYA, Stewart's Shops, Casella Waste Systems Inc, and the Vermont Country Store. Local support in Weston is being given by The Village Green Gallery, the Weston Marketplace, Kinhaven Music School and the Apple Knoll Inn.

This promises to be a one-of-a-kind evening of music. Tickets are $10.00 for adults, $5.00 for students under 13, and may be purchased in advance at The Village Green Gallery and at the Weston Marketplace or at the door. Visit www.lryo.org for more information

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Last modified: 12/25/11

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