Robert Moody, Conductor
Portland Youth Symphony, Guest Ensemble

In 1938, the orchestra played its first Young People’s Concerts to capture the ears and hearts of younger audiences. The tradition of reaching out to young people has continued for nearly 70 years. The KinderKonzerts program, for example, began in 1976 and has evolved into one of the Symphony’s most successful and popular outreach and educational programs. In April 2007, the Symphony added yet another educational and performance opportunity for the area’s most talented young musicians – the Side-by-Side Reading Rehearsal, in which members of the Portland Youth Symphony sit alongside Portland Symphony Orchestra musicians during a rehearsal in Merrill Auditorium.

Music Director Designate Robert Moody will conduct the 45 students and 45 professional as they play Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet on Sunday, April 27 at 6 p.m. The Side-by-Side is free and open to the public.

This event promises to:

• Provide an opportunity for the area’s most promising young musicians to learn from professional musicians in a real-world setting

• Introduce young musicians to Music Director Designate Robert Moody

• Give the general public an excellent and economical opportunity to experience the inner-workings of a professional orchestra and conductor while hearing a fine performance

• Allow community members another chance to meet/experience/see Maine’s new Maestro before Mr. Moody begins his inaugural season as Music Director in the fall of 2008