Youth Orchestra Hits the Right Notes at Library Concert

Mozart, Beethoven and Vivaldi never sounded as good as they did Sunday afternoon, when 16 members of the Michigan Philharmonic Youth Orchestra – formerly known as the Celebration Youth Orchestra – entertained a captivated audience at the .

Called “Rhapsody,” the show featured some of the area’s youngest musicians playing complex classical and contemporary pieces by luminaries like Ludwig von Beethoven, Wolfgang Mozart, Antonio Vivaldi, Friedrich Seitz and Henry Mancini.

The orchestra – which is part of the Plymouth Symphony Orchestra’s education program – was invited to the Library by the Friends of the Plymouth Library. The students played under the musical direction of Nan Washburn.

Jane Libbing, the manager of the 8-year-old orchestra, said many of the musicians are multi-instrumentalists that are honing not only their musical skills, but also their performing chops.

“The youth orchestra gives the musicians a chance to learn to perform in front of people while reading music,” she said. “We have young people who have family members who play with us, and we still have some of our original members.”

On Sunday, seven members of the Celebration Flute Choir played “Concerto No. 6 in E Minor” by Joseph Bodin de Boismorterier, “Rondeau” by Jean-Joseph Mouret, and a rousing version of “The Pink Panther” by Henry Mancini, the latter of which also features alto and bass flutes.

Additionally, solo violinists played compositions “Humoresque” by Antonin Dvorak, and “Meditation” by Jules Massenet. A string duet and string quartet also performed.

Though the orchestra is based in Plymouth, its members encompass a large area and several schools.

Young musicians must complete an audition process to be part of the orchestra; there are different groups which are made up of musicians within a pre-determined skill level. Those who have played for several years – or show exceptional talent – eventually become part of the symphony. Libbing said that half of the musicians are from Plymouth or Canton, and the rest come from several areas as far away as Dexter.

“We have people from all over,” Libbing said. “We even have one student who is a German exchange student. Our students attend public and private schools in Northville, Livonia, Westland and other communities, and some are home-schooled.”

Sixteen-year-old Jacqueline Paetzold, a cello player who has moved through the ranks of the youth orchestra and is now a member of the symphony, said being part of an orchestra can be stressful, because of the level of skill and dedication involved.

“This is a great group because everyone is so easy going,” said Jacqueline, who plays music with her cousin, Jazmin Schwartz, a viola player. “And you get to play with people who are really talented, and that you have something in common with.”

Kimberly Paetzold, Jacqueline’s mother, said the lessons her daughter has learned have surpassed music alone.

“She’s learned to work as a unit with others,” she said. “Jacqueline really enjoys being part of the orchestra.”

The youth orchestra will take the stage again May 3 at 7 p.m. for their spring concert at the Village Theater at Cherry Hill in Canton, and on June 7 at 6 p.m. for a pops concert at in Plymouth.