Join YOSA Philharmonic for America at 250, a powerful program that marks 250 years of independence with music and poetry that reflect the nation’s spirit, struggle, and soul.
William Schuman’s New England Triptych pays tribute to music popular during the Revolutionary War period. Adolphus Hailstork’s Fanfare on “Amazing Grace” offers an uplifting take on one of the most universally beloved hymns. Guest soloist Ilan Morgenstern performs a new bass trombone concerto by Sterling Maffe, a rising film and game composer.
Former San Antonio poet laureate Andrea “Vocab” Sanderson collaborates with the orchestra, performing original poetry written in response to Margaret Bonds’ Montgomery Variations, a moving tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The concert also includes a spotlight appearance by YOSA Intermezzo Strings.
America at 250 invites audiences to listen to the stories that have shaped our nation, told through the voices of composers and artists past and present, with new inspiring works that look toward the future.
Repetoire Includes:
Schuman—New England Triptych
Maffe—Bass Trombone Concerto
Hailstork—Fanfare on “Amazing Grace”
Bonds—Montgomery Variations
Plus an appearance by YOSA Intermezzo Strings
YOSA changes lives by providing shared musical experiences that unlock possibility and foster belonging for youth of all backgrounds.
YOSA’s most advanced orchestra is comprised of the very best young musicians in the San Antonio area. The YOSA Philharmonic performs professional-level repertoire in premier venues, collaborating regularly with internationally renowned soloists and composers.
YOSA Intermezzo Strings is YOSA’s newest string orchestra, led by conductor Jason
Thibodeaux. This orchestra offers aspiring musicians a balanced platform to further their musical
development with a focus on enhancing technical proficiency while exploring various musical
styles.
YOSA provides transformative music experiences to more than 2,500 young musicians ages 8-20 through YOSA Orchestras, YOSA Summer Symphony Camp, and YOSA School Partnerships. YOSA connects motivated young musicians together and provides a world-class experience that helps youth grow creatively, academically, and socially. YOSA envisions a community where all musically-inclined youth in San Antonio have a chance to pursue their interests and maximize their potential. YOSA seeks ways to remove financial and social barriers to high-quality music education and designs its activities around this purpose.
YOSA changes kids’ lives through music.
Hailed by the International Trombone Association Journal for his “rhythmically driving, technically flawless, and unfailingly dynamic and exciting" playing, Bass Trombonist Ilan Morgenstern is a unique voice in his field.
A native of Rehovot, Israel, Ilan Morgenstern is currently the Bass Trombonist of the Vancouver Symphony. A former member of the San Antonio Symphony, Houston Grand Opera Orchestra, Jacksonville Symphony and Kansas City Symphony, Morgenstern has also performed with the Detroit Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, Atlanta Symphony, Dallas Symphony, Utah Symphony, Houston Symphony, Virginia Symphony, New Israeli Opera, and the Israel Philharmonic.
Morgenstern's concerto performances have included engagements with the with the San Antonio Symphony, United States “Pershing's Own” Army Orchestra, Millennium Orchestra (Seoul, Korea), Jeju Symphony Orchestra (Jeju, Korea), and the National Repertory Orchestra.
In addition, Morgenstern has won numerous awards for his playing including the Jeju International Brass and Percussion Competition, Zellmer-Minnesota Orchestra Competition, National Repertory Orchestra's Concerto Competition, and is a recipient of the Lewis Van Haney Bass Trombone Philharmonic Prize.
Labeled a “must buy” in the International Trombone Association Journal, Morgenstern’s debut recording project It's Alive!! New Music for Bass Trombone, a collaboration with composer Robert Denham and pianist David Gilliland was released in May of 2016.
When not playing, teaching, or thinking about trombone, Ilan can be found playing with RahmRham and Ravi, kitty Lola, and trying desperately to stay one step ahead of them with his wife Karina.
Andrea Sanderson, San Antonio, TX. Poet Laureate 2020-2023, performs as “Vocab” in her hometown of San Antonio, Texas. “Watching her perform, the word “hero” comes to mind. And not “hero” for the sake of just skill, but for her work in her community: Sanderson teaches poetry workshops, mentors, builds up and encourages artists to pursue their art, and gives them platforms to showcase their talent.
Sanderson’s interest in other people’s art and artistic development became a passion of hers, and she started curating her own shows and creating platforms for other artists to hone their craft by hosting open mics.” (From The San Antonio Current, Jan. 16, 2018.)
Her poetry is published in, The Texas Observer, January 2016 Issue, Pariah Anthology SFA Press, March 2016, and Sycorax’s Daughters, Cedar Grove Publishing, January 2017, Soundbite Vol. 3, Anti-Languorous Project, Spring 2019. Her debut book entitled: She Lives In Music, published on Flower Song Press, was released on Valentine’s Day 2020. Her album She Tastes Like Music, is available on all music streaming platforms.
She received awards, Performer of the Year, Influencer of the Year, from Project Forward, and Dream Voice, from the Dream Week Commission. Sanderson is the winner of the 2019 People’s Choice Award, awarded by Luminaria Artist Foundation (formerly known as:Artist Foundation of San Antonio). In May of 2020 she was awarded Best Live Entertainment/Band Musician of the Year by the SEA Awards.
Ticket Purchase Limit Policy
To ensure fair access, there is a 8-ticket limit per order for this performance. For group purchases exceeding 8 tickets, please contact us at [email protected] for personalized assistance.
