Not all of our youth today are totally absorbed with pop culture, text messaging and the latest teen fads. The proof of this was evident yesterday afternoon in Sunset Center Theater as Youth Music Monterey presented an impressive concert entitled “Festival of Light and Sound” under the direction of conductor John Larry Granger. Before a huge capacity audience of enthusiastic family members, friends and supporters, we heard music making on a very high level. Comparing the Youth Orchestra and Honors Orchestra of fifteen years ago to the present ensembles shows remarkable growth, not only in the orchestras themselves, but also in the local school programs from which most of these young musicians receive their earliest instruction.

The Youth Orchestra began the afternoon concert with some ambitious fare consisting of the traditional Hungarian Rákóczy March, Saint-Saëns Marche Militaire Française, Alfven’s Swedish Rhapsody and Festique by Daniels. Impressive ensemble playing and studious attention to musical details marked these performances, and the final selection by Daniels took the young musicians over the top to earn a well deserved and enthusiastic round of applause.

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