The Southwestern College Youth Symphonies will present their first concert of the season on Sunday, Oct. 16, at 6 p.m., in the Richardson Performing Arts Center on the Southwestern College campus.

The concert will begin with the debut of the Youth Concert Orchestra, a new ensemble under the SCYS umbrella. Rebecca Tast, who joined the organization in May, is the conductor for the concert orchestra which has been in rehearsal since August. Tast is the orchestra director of Arkansas City Public Schools.

“Adding the Youth Concert Orchestra has been a vision we have had since starting six years ago,” says executive director and conductor Daniel Stevens. “We are now in a position to offer this experience to more and younger student musicians. I want to thank the administration at Southwestern College for believing in our mission and the families and musicians who’ve been with SCYS all along. Our good work justifies the faith Southwestern has shown us.”

Stevens will lead the Youth Symphony while sharing the podium responsibilities with new assistant conductor Travis Hale, the director of instrumental music at Wichita Southeast High School.

“Having two conductors allows one of us to be free to move among the students and offer instruction one-on-one,” Stevens says.  “This is taking our overall performance to the next level and helps the individual students improve and grow in their musicianship.”

The performance is underwritten by Betty Bradley. It will take place in the recently dedicated Richardson Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $5 and may be purchased in advance or at the door. Season tickets are available to all symphony and youth symphony concerts starting at $36. For more information or tickets, call Rose Hanna at (620) 229-6272.