Imagine being in Little League and getting to field ground balls next to Derek Jeter. Or be in Future Business Leaders of America and get to discuss stocks with a Wall Street trader. (You get the idea.)
The Florida Orchestra's annual Side by Side concert allows young musicians from the Pinellas Youth Symphony and the Tampa Bay Youth Orchestra to play beside musicians of The Florida Orchestra in an open rehearsal and informal performance, giving the students the opportunity to interact with the musicians and be encouraged to hone their skills.
The concert takes place at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 6, at the Mahaffey Theater. It begins with an open rehearsal followed by the performance. During intermission, the 250 musicians break into small groups for a question-and-answer session.
Maestro Thomas Wilkins lends his unique blend of humor and musicianship to the evening's events as he conducts. Those in attendance have the opportunity to watch him guide the student musicians through the rehearsal toward a more polished performance.
A highlight of the evening is the presentation of the Helen Torres Scholarships, annually given to two deserving young Bay area musicians.
The Tampa Bay Youth Orchestra consists of three separate ensembles made up of 230 aspiring musicians from more than 60 public and private schools throughout the Tampa Bay area.
The Pinellas Youth Symphony, founded in 1958, includes the Senior Orchestra, for the most experienced musicians; the Philharmonic Orchestra, giving students their first full orchestral experience; the Symphonic Strings for primary and intermediate string students; and the Senior Wind Orchestra for advanced woodwind, brass and percussion students.
The Side by Side concert is free and open to the public. The Mahaffey Theater is located at 400 First St. S., St. Petersburg (727-892-5798).
This article appears in Jan 31 – Feb 6, 2002.