Spring Festival 2026: String and Wind Ensembles

The California Youth Symphony is delighted to present the Spring Festival Afternoon concert, a joyful celebration of music-making featuring our youngest ensembles. This family-friendly performance showcases the growth, energy, and artistry of CYS musicians in a vibrant program designed to inspire listeners of all ages.

Under the direction of Anthony Lanzino, the Wind Ensemble presents a program rich in contrast and expression. A highlight of their performance is "Nimrod" from Edward Elgar's Enigma Variations, one of the most beloved and moving works in the orchestral repertoire. Noble and deeply expressive, Nimrod offers young musicians a powerful opportunity to explore warmth of tone, ensemble blend, and expressive phrasing. The Wind Ensemble will also perform energetic and contemporary works by Randall Standridge and Adam Gorb, bringing color, drive, and imagination to the program.

The Chamber Winds add rhythmic vitality and playful character to the afternoon, including a featured performance of JugHeads by Nick Aukofer, an audience favorite that highlights the excitement and creativity of percussion performance. Additional selections by Vinther, Standridge, and Longfield round out a program full of contrast and musical imagery.

The string ensembles, led by Kati Kyme, present a varied selection of works that celebrate the foundations of the classical tradition. Intermezzi and Virtuosi Strings perform music by Joseph Haydn, Benjamin Britten, Johann Sebastian Bach, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and Ludwig van Beethoven. The program also includes music by Clara Schumann, offering a meaningful opportunity for students to engage with the legacy of one of the nineteenth century’s most significant female composers.

We invite you to join us for a bright and engaging afternoon that celebrates learning, collaboration, and the joy of making music together—a perfect complement to the Spring Festival Evening concert.

Concert Highlights

Intermezzi Strings - Kati Kyme, Director
Haydn - Quartet in C major - movement IV Allegro
Britten - Playful Pizzicato from Simple Symphony
JS Bach/arr. W.A. Mozart - Fugue in E-flat major

Virtuosi Strings - Kati Kyme, Director
Clara Schumann - Prelude and Fugue, op. 16 no. 3
W.A. Mozart - Adagio and Fugue in C, K546
Beethoven - Finale from Quartet in C Major, op. 59 no. 3

Chamber Winds - Anthony Lanzino, Director
Vinther - Snow on Snow
Standridge - Under the Cherry Blossoms
Longfield - Safe Harbor
Aukofer - JugHeads

Wind Ensemble - Anthony Lanzino, Director
Standridge - Awaken
Gorb - Awayday
Elgar - "Nimrod" from Enigma Variations

Conductor Profiles