The Mansfield Symphony Youth Orchestra will hold their spring concert, “Tribute to Ettore Chiudioni,” on Sunday, May 4, at the Renaissance Theatre in Mansfield.
Ettore Chiudioni, known as “Mr. C.” to students, touched the lives of many musical students throughout his career, especially those in the Mansfield Symphony Youth Orchestra, where, for 24 years, he recruited, organized, rehearsed, and conducted the group. The orchestra is now made up of 89 students, ranging from grades 8-12, from 25 high schools in a six county area.
Chiudioni passed away in March after a teaching and conducting career that spanned six decades. His life was celebrated by those he left behind, as reported in a previous Richland Source article.
Interim Conductor Randy Heidlebaugh said, “It’s been a difficult second half of the year, with Mr. C. passing away. The kids are responding well. We’re having a good time. We’re really trying to put on a good concert for him, in his tribute.”
“He loved the youth orchestra. We want to do this for him and for the kids,” Heidlebaugh added.
In keeping with Chiudioni’s practice, the spring concert will spotlight outstanding student achievement. Featured performers will be winners of December’s concerto competition, Caitlin Lehman and Laura Grube.
Lehman, a junior violinist at Lexington High School, will perform the third movement of Eduoard Lalo’s “Symphonie Espagnole.” Grube, a tenth grade student at Plymouth High School, will play the first movement of the same piece.
Lehman, who has been playing violin since fourth grade, said she is excited about playing the solo. Chiudioni is sorely missed by the students, she noted, “He was a really great conductor. He just had a lot of nice things to say about us.”
Mansfield Symphony Youth Orchestra Assistant Director Steve Taylor said he has been involved for the 24 years Chiudioni directed, and the pair were long time friends.
“It’s a challenging program. We’re pretty proud of it,” he said.
Taylor noted the students in the orchestra work hard. The group meets once a week for two hours, but they practice many hours on their own. “We rely on that a lot. One two hour session per week is not enough to prepare our music very well. They do come through, they practice as much as they can,” he said.
Taylor said, of the upcoming tribute, “I hear ticket sales are running ahead of the usual, just because he was so well known. It’s a good program, a lot of music in different styles. I think people will be pretty impressed with what these guys do.”
Money raised through the concerts is used to support the orchestra, for music, personnel, and other related expenses.
“Anything we make with tickets just goes right back into what we are doing with the kids,” said Taylor.
In addition to the piece by Lalo, the program will include Beethoven’s “Overture to Egmont,” a piece that Chiudioni felt was an important performing experience for advanced high school instrumentalists.
As Chiudioni himself played principal trumpet in the Mansfield Symphony for nearly 55 years, the finale will include the tribute of Verdi’s “Triumphal March” from “Aida.” The piece will feature the orchestra’s trumpet section, which will be joined by antiphonal guest trumpeters, many of whom are alumni of the orchestra.
Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and are available though the theatre’s website or by calling the box office at 419-522-2726, Tuesdays through Fridays.
