LAKEPORT, Calif. – A full concert by the young people of the Clear Lake Performing Arts Youth Orchestra is scheduled for Sunday, June 10, at Lakeport's Soper-Reese Community Theatre.

The concert starts at 3 p.m. Admission is free.

Susan Condit, music director and conductor of the orchestra, said the orchestra has outgrown its previous venue – Kelseyville's Presbyterian Church – and is grateful to the Soper-Reese and its volunteers for making the concert possible.

Condit has assembled a wide-ranging program which, although youth-oriented, includes music intended to please all generations.

She also is joining forces with several members of the Lake County Symphony and other community members to ensure a top quality presentation.

“We've had some of the symphony members sit in with us in the past,” she said, “and it was a lot of fun, so we're planning to do it again.”

The concert opens with a rousing fiddle favorite "Cripple Creek" arranged by Edmund Siennicki, followed by a contemporary piece entitled "Mythos" composed by young Korean music and acting impresario Soon Hee Newbold.

"Hit the Beach" is another contemporary number written by Dean Sorenson with a jazz arrangement in a Bossa Nova style. It features a solo selection for violins and cellos and a driving percussion that accompanies the ensemble. Aaron Stevens, a recent CLPA scholarship recipient, will join the orchestra on drums.

One of John Williams' noted movie themes will be next on the program. It is "Harry's Wondrous World" from "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets." Arranged by Douglas E. Wagner, it is an exciting but difficult piece with challenging rhythms and numerous accidentals.

“We worked hard to get this number together,” Condit admitted.

Next on the program is the theme from the film "Pirates of the Caribbean – The Curse of the Black Pearl," written by Klaus Badelt and arranged by Ted Ricketts. This is the number where each section of the Youth Orchestra will be joined by one of the players from the senior symphony.

After intermission, a special treat will be offered in the form of Camille Saint-Saens ever-popular "Carnival of the Animals" arranged by Harry Alshin for piano and strings.

Saint-Saens actually composed this for friends, never intending that it be performed publicly, but it has since become one of his most popular compositions. It is a collection of short pieces that depict lions, donkeys, the elephant, hens and roosters, kangaroos, the aquarium – even some fossils – and is complete with overture and finale.

Wally Fuller, a volunteer technician with the Soper-Reese, has assembled a slide show with appropriate pictures accompanying each piece.

Lower Lake High School seniors Kaylee Smith and Rebecca Sires also will perform interpretive dances saluting the animals. Audience members who may be unfamiliar with "Carnival of the Animals" will be brought up to speed by announcer Doug Rhoades' reading of the explanatory verses written by Jack Prelutsky.

The CLPA Youth Orchestra is wholly supported by the nonprofit Clear Lake Performing Arts, which also underwrites the Lake County Symphony.

The orchestra is constantly evolving as members graduate into the symphony or leave for college or other activities, and therefore Condit is always looking for new participants, especially string members, but also a pianist for the fall session.

Rehearsals take place on Sundays from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Kelseyville Presbyterian Church. Those interested may contact her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

CLPA President Ed Bublitz urged members – and the general public – to attend the concert.

“These kids work very, very hard to learn and present the highest possible quality music, and they deserve our support,” he said.

He also noted that the young musicians would hopefully one day graduate into seats in the symphony.

Although admission is without charge, donations at the door are encouraged for the CLPA Youth Music Education programs, which include scholarships, the Youth Orchestra and in-school programs.

The Soper-Reese Community Theatre is located at 275 S. Main St., Lakeport.