Music

A Youthful Tribute

symphony concert features Perry, honors veterans

Barbara Arnold |

He’s gone from the Long Beds to the youth symphony. Michael Perry, best-selling author, humorist, radio show host, and leader of the Long Beds, his down-home band, will be sharing his low, gravely, and folksy voice as the master of ceremonies for “A Spring Tribute to Honor Our Veterans,” the season finale concert of the Chippewa Valley Youth Symphony.  The concert will honor the service and sacrifice of our veterans and those in the armed services. The patriotic-themed concert will be 3pm Sunday, May 18, at UW-Eau Claire’s Gantner Concert Hall. “It’s an honor to be part of a presentation that highlights the hard work and artistic talents of young people from our very own backyard,” said Perry in a CVYS news release.  Perry will also narrate the group’s premiere performance of “Lincoln at Gettysburg,” composed by Andrew  H. Dabczynski. The CVYS is an auditioned music group drawing students, grades 7 through 12, from a 60-mile radius, and the full 74-member orchestra consists of students from public, private, and home-school academic settings. The young musicians have been rehearsing for eight weeks, and will work with Perry in the last few rehearsals. In addition to such popular favorites as Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture” and Sousa’s “Stars and Stripes Forever,” the concert will feature CVYS Concerto competition winner Jason Lin who will perform Grieg’s piano concerto. The CVYS will also combine forces with the 77 members of the Memorial and North high school choirs for the concluding piece, “Hymn to the Fallen,” by John Williams.

Chippewa Valley Youth Symphony’s “A Spring Tribute to Honor Our Veterans” • Sunday, May 18, 3pm • Gantner Concert Hall, Haas Fine Arts Center, 212 Water St. • $5, adults; free for veterans, children, and students with ID • tickets, including free ones, must be reserved online www.cvyouthsymphony.org • (715) 955-4085 • info@cvyouthsymphony.org