ProMusica Arizona (PMAZ) Youth Orchestra filled the Boulder Creek High School Mini-Auditorium with beautiful music of the holidays at its "Celebrate the Season" concert and recital on December 10th. The group of 17 young performers demonstrated impressive levels of artistry before parents and community members. The PMAZ Co-Artistic Director, Kevin Kozacek, conducted the one hour music program including: Santa at the Symphony, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Silent Night, audience sing-a-longs and five solo, duet or trio performances.
PMAZ Youth Orchestra hopes to recruit more students who benefit greatly from the "side by side" mentoring of older student and adult members of the ProMusica Arizona Orchestra. These more experienced players generously volunteer their time at the Youth Orchestra rehearsals. Horn player, Harvey Mickelson has even volunteered to give free private french horn lessons to students interested in pursuing that instrument. Other adult members of PMAZ also teach private music lessons at reasonable rates.
Mr. Kozacek encourages more young musicians to audition for the Youth Orchestra on January 7th from 10am- 3pm and January 8th from 1pm-4pm. Auditions are by appointment and anyone interested in more information should call the PMAZ office at 623-465-4650. The Youth Orchestra rehearsals begin January 9th at 4:14-5:45pm at the Boulder Creek High School Band Room. Rehearsals continue every Monday through May 19th when the group will perform a special youth concert "Aesop and other Musical Tales".