Brockton Symphony Highlights Youth In Upcoming Concert

BrocktonPost
BROCKTON--Organizers of Brockton Symphony Orchestra's Family Concert at West Middle School Saturday afternoon will be one of the best times for youngsters to gain an appreciation of classical music. "Kids always say 'I don't like classical music, I don't like classical music, but they do like and are familiar with it from cartoons," said Denzil Paul, a member of the orchestra's board.
Paul chuckles that when youngsters realize the music behind some of their favorite characters like Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd--who most famously played hunter and hunted to a modified "Kill the Wabbit" version of Wagner's "Ride of the Valkyries--are actually famous classical pieces.
"They might like it--they just don't know it yet," he said. "If at the end of the concert they say, 'not bad,' then we've done our job," Paul said.
The concert takes place Saturday at 3 p.m. at West Middle School. Admission is free, but donations will be accepted toward scholarships for Brockton students to take music lessons.
One of the highlights of the 60-minute concert is the amazing work of Anna Larsen, (pictured above) an 11-year-old piano prodigy from Newton who has played at Carnegie Hall, on the Oprah Winfrey show and studies at the New England Conservatory of Music.
Larsen was also an honorable mention in the Brockton Orchestra's 2009 Feinberg Youth Competition.
"Everyone who has heard her says she's incredible," Paul said, looking forward to his first time hearing the 11-year-old phenom play.
Paul said the musical selections are geared toward a youthful audience.
"It's stuff you'll know," Paul said.
There will be powerful and upbeat Mozart, Sousa marches, and Rossini's finale of the William Tell Overture--made popular by the 1950's TV show, "The Lone Ranger" and the Mary E. Baker Elementary School Chorus and the Canton's Galvin Middle School Strings are expected to fill the hall with well-known, toe-tapping selections.
"We really want to keep their attention," Paul said.
Students will also be brought up on stage to help conduct the Brockton Symphony Orchestra and after the show there will be face painting and an instrument petting zoo.
"We want youngsters to get as much time with music and instruments as we can," Paul said.
Paul invited all residents to come see the orchestra and its special guests and get a taste of the high-caliber classical music the symphony brings to Brockton.
"A lot of people are not aware of how good we are," Paul said.