The Mobile Symphony Youth Orchestra’s (MSYO) season finale will showcase the Gulf Coast’s most talented student musicians, under the direction of acclaimed international conductor Dr. Iván del Prado, Sunday, May 4, at 2:30 p.m., at Mobile’s historic Saenger Theatre. The program includes Bizet's L”Arlésienne, Suite No. 2 and Bernstein's lively and popular Symphonic Dances from West Side Story. Landon Roberts, 2025 MSYO Concerto Competition winner, will be featured in a movement from the Vaughn Williams Oboe Concerto.
The MSYO Concerto Competition is highly competitive and a great honor for our student winners. This year we had two winners, Kenai Weber and Landon Roberts. We were proud to present Kenai's performance in our fall concert and we present Landon's performance this Sunday. Landon, from Bay Minette, is a senior at Baldwin County High School where he has been active in the BCHS Symphonic Band, Marching Band and Jazz Band. An avid oboist, Landon has performed in county, district and state-level honor bands, as well as the Baldwin Pops. He is in his third year as principal oboe with the MSYO. Landon plans to attend the University of South Alabama to study music education and performance. He hopes to be a music educator to teach and inspire others.
Internationally celebrated violinist Ilmar Gavilán will join the orchestra for Lalo's Symphony Espangole. Gavilán, equally at home with classical and jazz music, is familiar to Mobile audiences as first violin and founding member of the Harlem Quartet, a popular classical group that performed with the MSO and in outreach concerts across south Alabama.
Each year’s season finale is an exciting concert showing the amazing accomplishments of all the young musicians in the orchestra. Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door. Students are $10. Advance tickets can be purchased online at www.mobilesymphony.org or by calling the Mobile Symphony Box Office at 251-432- 2010. This is a festival seating performance - the seats are on a first come, first serve basis when you arrive at the theater. Doors open 1/2 hour prior to start of performance.
