Guest Artist Rufus Reid - Premier International Jazz Bassist - to Perform With Oakland Youth Orchestra

ROCHESTER, Mich. (Oakland Youth Orchestra) - Oakland Youth Orchestra embraces the opportunity to collaborate with renowned international jazz bass artist, Rufus Reid. His original composition The Meddler will feature String Orchestra students accompanying Mr. Reid on bass. Philharmonia and Symphony conductors Mr. Krempa and Mr. Milicevic will join him on violin.

Nearly 300 student members representing 45 local communities make up the student body of Oakland Youth Orchestra, which provides an outstanding musical enrichment and education program for those students accepted into it.

The OYO, a non-profit organization, has significantly grown since it began 30 years ago. It now includes three ensembles: the entry level String Orchestra, led by Mr. John Kennedy; the Philharmonia Orchestra - a middle/high school level full orchestra, directed by Mr. Anthony Krempa; and the advanced Symphony Orchestra, a high school full orchestra, directed by Mr. Zeljko Milicevic.

Of particular interest to students: While auditions for the following year's membership are held in May, each year in March OYO holds a solo competition to select one winner from each orchestra group. Besides scholarship awards, winners also earn the privilege of performing a solo at an upcoming concert.

The winner of the Symphony Orchestra concerto competition of March 2005 is Patrick Walle, a horn player from Troy, MI. Patrick graduated from high school last year, is currently enrolled at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY, and returns to play the R.Strauss horn concerto No.1 with Symphony Orchestra.

Tickets are $10 adults, $5 students, or $25 for families, and can be purchased at the door. To access more information, please see: https://www.oyomi.org