Young artist highlights Northwest Symphony concert

The final Northwest Symphony Orchestra concert of the 61st season will feature cellist Lucie Ticho, 15, the winner of the Paul Vermel Young Artist Award, performing Haydn’s Cello Concerto No. 2 in D Major.

The concert will be the last with longtime maestro Paul Vermel at the podium. After 19 years as music director and conductor, he is stepping down.

The concert will be at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, May 12, in the Theatre for the Performing Arts at Maine West High School, 1755 S. Wolf Road in Des Plaines.

The concert will feature light classics and music of Broadway. The barbershop chorus the Arlingtones will give a special Mother’s Day presentation. Also on the program are selections from Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Carousel,” the “Pomp and Circumstance March” No. 4 by Sir Edward Elgar, Franz von Suppé’s “Light Cavalry” overture, and Charles Ives’ “Variations on America.”

Carolyn Paulin, a producer and program host at radio station WFMT 98.7 Chicago, will provide preconcert commentary one hour prior to the concert at 2:30 p.m.

Lucie Ticho, a student at Hinsdale Central High School, is co-principal cellist of the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra and Encore Chamber Orchestra, and a member of the Reha Quartet.

As winner of the Young Virtuosi Competition, Lucie performed the Beethoven Triple Concerto with the Elgin Symphony in 2011.

Lucie has played in master classes for Robert Nagy, Eric Kim, Timothy Eddy and Richard Aaron among others.

The Northwest Symphony Orchestra, founded in 1951, numbers 70 instrumentalists, ranging from students to professionals. Symphony members, ranging from the late teens to the eighties, live in Des Plaines and more than 45 surrounding communities.

Ticket are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors and $10 for students. Children under age 14 are admitted free when accompanied by a paying adult. Tickets will be available at the door. For online orders, go to northwestsymphony.org.