Youth symphony starts new season

Vernon — The Skylands Youth Symphony will launch its 2008-2009 series of performances with a winter concert on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2009, at 2 p.m. at St. Francis de Sales Church. Tickets for the performance are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and students, and children under age 10 are free. Tickets will be available at the door. (Snow date: Sunday, Jan. 25.) The symphony and its chamber group are under the direction of Keely Gould. This year marks her sixth season leading the symphony. She is a graduate of the College of St. Rose and has earned a master’s degree in music education from Central Connecticut State University. She has performed with the Orange County Music Educators Orchestra and The Greater Newburgh Symphony Orchestra. She is also a private violin instructor and a music educator in Warwick, N.Y., and a recent recipient of the distinguished music teacher award from the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation. The symphony is made up of musicians from 9 to 18 years of age. It is open to young musicians in the region of Sussex County and Orange County, N.Y. To be eligible to join the symphony, one must have studied music for at least two years on a stringed instrument and must be able to read music. An audition is required for all incoming musicians. The symphony holds rehearsals at Glen Meadow Middle School in Vernon on Thursday evenings at 7 p.m. In addition to performing concerts, the Skylands Youth Symphony has offered music theory classes, music workshops, symphony trips and scholarships. St. Francis de Sales Church is located at Rte. 517 in Vernon. For more information, call 973-875-7478.