Youth symphony to premiere teen's work

St. Viator High School sophomore Jonathan Metzinger plays French horn in the symphonic band and tenor saxophone in the jazz band. But his real love is playing the piano.

The teen often sits down to strike out some melodies on the keyboard, and on his most recent attempt, it turned into a full-fledged musical work.

Metzinger's original composition, "Overture for Piano and Orchestra," will make its premiere on Sunday during the Metropolis Youth Symphony's holiday concert, when he will play piano, and the nearly 40 orchestra members will perform with him.

The concert takes place at 6 p.m. Sunday at the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre stage, 111 W. Campbell St. in Arlington Heights. Tickets are $15, and $10 for seniors and children 12 and under. Call the box office for tickets, at (847) 577-2121.

"I'm excited, and a little nervous," says Metzinger, 16, of Prospect Heights. "I've mostly arranged pieces before for the orchestra. This is the first thing I've written."

His work will come during a wide-ranging program that will feature everything from the "William Tell Overture," to the traditional Israeli folk song, "Shalom Chaverim," or "Peace Friends, Till We Meet Again."

For the first time since the youth symphony came under the administration of the Metropolis School of the Performing Arts, its members will combine with another ensemble, the Metropolis Vocal Ensemble.

The young singers are directed by Stephanie Durant and Sarah McIntyre -- both voice teachers at the school -- who will lead them in performing traditional carols with the orchestra, and singing some of their favorite holiday classics.

Javier Mendoza, conductor of the youth symphony, had hoped to accomplish both goals when he took over the orchestra nearly three years ago: combine them with a young vocal ensemble -- and showcase students' works.

In doing so, Mendoza is falling back on his own training, when he served as an assistant to the artistic director of the Indianapolis Children's Choir while an undergraduate student Butler University.

He also had the chance to premiere new works during his graduate work at the University of New Mexico, training as a conductor, and he wants to give his young musicians that same chance.

"It is important to me that the young Metropolis musicians perform recent and new compositions," Mendoza says, "while also learning the standard repertoire."