SPRING CONCERT SPRING CONCERT
The Incredibles (Main Theme)
Rey's Theme (Star Wars)
The Incredibles (Main Theme) Rey's Theme (Star Wars)
The Hanging Tree (The Hunger Games) Genesis—Galante
The Hanging Tree (The Hunger Games) Genesis—Galante
Battle of the Heroes (Star Wars)
Battle of the Heroes (Star Wars)
Apollo 13
Apollo 13
Volver a la Montaña—Hanson Symphony No. 2—Tristan Duran
Volver a la Montaña—Hanson Symphony No. 2 Tristan Duran
Zigeunerweisen, Op. 20—Ft. Kevin Zhao
Zigeunerweisen, Op. 20—Ft. Kevin Zhao
Symphony No. 8—Dvořák
Symphony No. 8 Dvořák
SUNDAY, March 1, 2026 4:00 PM THE civic center
SUNDAY, March 1, 2026 4:00 PM THE civic center
Lubbock Youth Orchestras would like to express gratitude to our partners:
David Cho Lubbock Symphony Music Director
LYO Symphony Substitute Conductor
Kenneth Nelson McCool Academy Orchestra Director
LYO Philharmonic Substitute Conductor
Coronado High School Lubbock ISD
Lubbock Memorial Civic Center City of Lubbock
Corey Dolter Clutch Productions
LYO Parents & Family
Jill Stangl Board Chair
Nadene Tipton Education Chair
Heather Hocker President & CEO
David Cho Music Director
Staff
Lee Schrader
Julia Griffith
Molly Ramirez
Callie Watson
Amelia Jamieson
Courtney Jordan
Israel Mello
Gary Hudson
Suzanne Rasco
Aaron Lederer
Karyn Roy
Lee Schrader Lubbock Youth Orchestras Manager
Jamie Shipp
Jeremy Haggard
Violin I
Abi Rhoades
Violin II
Cassidy Forehand
Viola
Israel Mello
Lanna Cornell
Patricia Maloney
Bass
Edgar Quintanilla Woodwinds
Julia Griffith Percussion
Greta Guilliams
alejos anaya
LYO Symphony orchestra
Alejos Anaya is honored to direct the LYO Symphony Orchestra, as a former LYO student himself. Mr. Anaya is a proud alumnus of Texas Tech University, where he received his Bachelor’s degree in cello performance in 2003. He has teaching experience with both middle school and high school students, having taught at Covington Middle School in Austin, TX for 5 years and teaching at Lubbock High, his high school alma mater, for over a decade.
Mr. Anaya has had the pleasure of serving as both a clinician and conductor multiple times in both Texas and Alaska and is an active cellist, performing with the Lubbock Symphony Orchestra, Big Spring Orchestra, and the Lubbock Moonlight Musicals as well as appearing with many other orchestras in the region.
Dr. Joshua Allen
LYO Philharmonic Orchestra
Dr. Joshua Allen proudly serves as the director of the LYO Philharmonic Orchestra. He has taught middle and high school orchestra here in Lubbock since 2009 as the Director of Orchestras at the Talkington School for Young Women Leaders. Dr. Allen received his DMA in Music Education from Boston University in 2020, a Master’s Degree in Music Composition from Texas Tech University in 2011, and a Bachelor’s of Music Education from Wayland Baptist University in 2009.
Dr. Allen received the Newton Excellence in Education award from the Beaumont Foundation in 2015 and was named an Educator of Excellence in 2019 by the Young Women’s Preparatory Network. Although his primary instrument is alto saxophone, Dr. Allen is a self-taught violinist and violist and performs viola in several orchestras in the surrounding area, including the Roswell Symphony Orchestra, the Big Spring Symphony Orchestra, the Southwest Symphony Orchestra, and the Lubbock Civic Orchestra. As an aspiring composer, his published original works and arrangements have been performed by his orchestras and performers across the country. When he is not working with students or performing, Dr. Allen spends as much time as possible with his wife, Rachel, and son, Larry Jack.
Natalie Gschwend
LYO Prelude String Orchestra
Natalie Gschwend is a proud Lubbock native, born and raised here. She is thrilled to return to her roots with the Lubbock Youth Orchestras, where she played violin as a young musician. Mrs. Gschwend is an alumna of Texas Tech University, where she received her Bachelor’s degree in Music Education in 2021. She taught Elementary Music at Stewart Elementary and now serves as the Orchestra/Mariachi Director at Mackenzie Middle School in Lubbock ISD.
Andrea Martinez
LYO Wind Ensemble
Andrea Martinez is excited to serve as the director of the newest LYO group, the Wind Ensemble. Ms. Martinez is the Director of Bands at Hutchinson Middle School where she has taught for over a decade, after her first year of teaching at Lincoln Middle School in San Angelo.
Born and raised in Garland, TX, Ms. Martinez first moved to Lubbock to attend Texas Tech and graduated in 2014 with a Bachelor’s of Music. Her primary instrument is horn and she has been a member of the Lubbock Civic Orchestra since 2018. She is also an active performer on percussion and drum set with community groups such as Moonlight Musicals, Lubbock Community Theatre, and TTU Theatre.
Clint Barrick Host
The Incredibles (Main Theme) Michael Giacchino
“Rey’s Theme” from Star Wars: Episode VII—
The Force Awakens John Williams
“The Hanging Tree” from The Hunger Games
James Newton Howard and Wesley Schultz
Natalie Gschwend Conductor
Genesis Rossano Galante
“Battle of the Heroes” from Star Wars: Episode III—
Revenge of the Sith John Williams
Apollo 13 James Horner
Dr. Joshua Allen Conductor
Volver a la Montaña Shelley Hanson
Andrea Martinez Conductor
Symphony No. 2, Mvt. 1 and 2 Tristan Duran (LYO Senior)
Zigeunerweisen, Op. 20 Pablo de Sarasate
FEATURED SOLOIST: Kevin Zhao Violin
Symphony No. 8, Mvt. 4 Antonín Dvořák
Alejos Anaya Conductor
Featured Soloist
2026 Lubbock youth Orchestras CONCERTO
COMPETITION WINNER
Kevin Zhao Violin Junior at Lubbock High School
No. of years in LYO: 2
Musical Achievements:
TMEA All Region 16, TMEA All State
While Kevin was away performing at TMEA All State in San Antonio, we asked his mother Wei Zhang to answer some questions to help our audience get to know him! See her answers below:
How many years has he been playing the violin? Kevin has played violin since 4th grade (2017). He currently studies with Lubbock Symphony’s Concertmaster Annie Chalex Boyle. What does he love about playing violin? Playing music brings Kevin a sense of stability, flow, enjoyment and peaceful mind. What are his future plans? Does he plan to continue music after graduation? To my understanding, his goal is to use technology to create tools that help people, such as unlocking the healing power of music through music therapy. To achieve this, he will pursue a major in Computer Science while playing the violin in the orchestra.
Did you always know he was going to be a successful musician? No. It is a pleasant, surprising result. But I can feel that he enjoys playing the violin, even during challenging times. I am extremely proud of his achievements as a young musician, in overcoming challenges with the support of his conductors, peers, and teachers.
Do you have a favorite memory of watching him play? Before moving to Lubbock, Kevin had a violin tutor, James. He holds an annual spring recital for all his students. Kevin played the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto. The music is so beautiful and it marked a significant milestone in Kevin’s musical journey. The moment was more than music; it was about celebrating growth, passion, and the joy with family and friends.
Jace Alger
Joy Anderson
Ellie Bak
Thomas Bruning
Isaac Martens
Abby Shipp
Ray Wang
Kevin Zhao
Aditya Ramkumar
Mikayla Roberts
notes from the composer
Symphony no. 2
Tristan Duran Composer, Clarinet Senior at Frenship High School No. of years in LYO: 5
Musical Achievements:
TMEA All Region 16, TMEA All State, UIL State Solo & Ensemble, WTAC Outstanding Drum Major, US Youth Composer’s Challenge 1st National Runner-Up, Multi-instrumentalist
Post-Graduation Plans:
Major in Music Composition and Theory at Texas State University San Marcos
Tristan’s Notes on his piece, Symphony No. 2:
My second symphony, similar to my first, follows the story of the book collaboratively created by my friend Jessup Farmer, and transcribed by me, Tristan Duran. The first movement, The Dreamscape, depicts the nightmarish landscape that Alex, the main character and prince of Freiheit, is forced to explore. As he wanders through the space-drifting rubble of his home-world, he catches sight of him and his cousin, King Ethan, in the distance. Shortly after noticing him and his cousin, Alex witnesses the murder of Ethan from his own hands. Distressed, Alex frantically runs to the now fallen king, before spotting an oddly shaped mask and waking up to his alarm.
In the second movement, The Escape, the startled and now-risen Alex, is sent by Ethan to assist the guards in sorting out the storage in the basement of the prison. Lethargically, Alex makes way to the prison basement, meeting an officer named “Johnny” on the way. As Alex and Johnny descend to the basement and begin sorting storage, Alex gets knocked out by the hands of Johnny. After knocking Alex out, the officer blows off the hinges to the vault in the basement, where he steals a map to an overpowering staff capable of possessing people. After concealing the map and fleeing the area, Johnny gets on his horse and gallops out of the kingdom valiantly. Soon after, Alex is found by Ethan, who expresses immense concern for Alex’s condition. After Alex tells Ethan what happened, Ethan begins making plans with other officers to hunt down Johnny. Alex wants to go with them, but is forced to stay after large debate with Ethan. As Alex walks to his room, he hears the footsteps of someone behind him, before hearing the clatter of metal. Turning around quickly, Alex sees a hooded figure with the same mask he saw in his dream running away, leaving behind a cloak, a mask, and a sword. Alex impulsively picks up the items, and equips them, before bolting through the castle doors and sprinting to the border of the city to meet Ethan and the officers.
Azra Balcioglu Viola
Frenship High School
No. of years in LYO: 2
Musical Achievements:
TMEA All Region 16, UIL
Solo & Ensemble, TTU BOC Top Orchestra
Post-Graduation Plans: Attend a college premedical program and then medical school to become a surgeon.
Oliver Flores Trombone Lubbock High School
No. of years in LYO: 1
Musical Achievements:
TMEA All Region 16, UIL State Marching Band
Post-Graduation Plans:
Become an aerospace engineer, and probably continue playing Bass Trombone.
2025-2026 Seniors
Julio Castillo Viola Hobbs High School
No. of years in LYO: 1
Musical Achievements: Founder of multiple orchestras, NMMEA All State, Multi-instrumentalist
Post-Graduation Plans: Major in Music Education (piano, voice) and then study graduate Orchestral Conducting at Eastern New Mexico University.
Caden Flowers Tuba Lubbock High School
No. of years in LYO: 3
Musical Achievements:
TMEA All Region 16, TMEA All State, UIL Solo & Ensemble, UIL State Marching Band
Post-Graduation Plans: Attend South Plains College for an associate’s degree in Music Education, then work towards a doctoral degree in Tuba Performance. TUBA!!
Jason Elder Violin Homeschool
No. of years in LYO: 2
Musical Achievements: LYO Outstanding Leadership Award 2025
Post-Graduation Plans: Study Nursing at South Plains College.
Vera Rose Giemza Bass Lubbock High School
No. of years in LYO: 2
Musical Achievements:
TMEA All Region 16, UIL Solo & Ensemble
Post-Graduation Plans: Study biology in college, pursuing a career in conservation genomic research. I’m currently waiting on decisions from multiple universities, including Brown and Harvard.
Carson Hickman Clarinet
Lubbock High School
No. of years in LYO: 2
Musical Achievements:
TMEA All Region 16, UIL Solo & Ensemble, Premiered band composition in 2025
Post-Graduation Plans: Attend the TTU School of Music to study Composition, and if possible, learn to play a lot of new instruments!
Isaac Martens Violin
Kingdom Preparatory Academy
No. of years in LYO: 11
Musical Achievements:
TMEA All Region 16, 2026
LYO Concerto Competition
Runner-Up, Multiinstrumentalist
Post-Graduation Plans:
Major in Mechanical Engineering and minor or double major in Violin Performance at a private university in Texas (still deciding between multiple options).
2025-2026 Seniors
Reagan Horst Trombone
Frenship High School
No. of years in LYO: 3
Musical Achievements:
TMEA All Region 16, TMEA All State
Post-Graduation Plans: Study to become a pharmacist.
Lexi Jackson Trumpet
Lubbock High School
No. of years in LYO: 1
Musical Achievements:
TMEA All Region 16, TMEA All Region 16 Jazz
Post-Graduation Plans: Attend South Plains College to become a Medical Lab Technician and study Jazz.
Mikayla Roberts Oboe
Frenship High School
No. of years in LYO: 4
Musical Achievements:
TMEA All Region 16
Post-Graduation Plans: Study Business Management at Lubbock Christian University.
Miguel Rocha Horn
Frenship High School
No. of years in LYO: 3
Musical Achievements:
TMEA All Region 16
Post-Graduation Plans: Major in Landscape Architecture at Texas Tech University.
Luke Roden Cello
Lubbock High School
No. of years in LYO: 2
Musical Achievements:
TMEA All Region 16, UIL State Solo & Ensemble, TTU School of Music Scholarship
Post-Graduation Plans:
Go to college, and then figure it out from there.
Geoffrey Wallace
Percussion
Coronado High School
No. of years in LYO: 4
Musical Achievements:
LYO Symphony Principal
Percussionist, Coronado HS
Marching Band Drum Line
Post-Graduation Plans: Go wherever the wind takes me.
2025-2026 Seniors
Andreas Sizer Cello
Frenship High School
No. of years in LYO: 5
Musical Achievements:
TMEA All Region 16, TMEA
All Area A, UIL State Solo & Ensemble, UIL State Marching Band
Post-Graduation Plans: Attend Texas Tech University Honors College and major in Engineering.
All Saints Episcopal School
No. of years in LYO: 10
Musical Achievements: LYO Symphony Cellist
Post-Graduation Plans: Attend Purdue University in the Fall.
Providing quality educational experiences for developing young musicians from across the South Plains region, LYO consists of multiple ensembles for students of various ages and skill levels.
Check the LYO website for information about the 2026-27 season auditions happening this summer!
Gracie Salazar Horn
Appalachian Spring Lubbock Symphony Chamber Orchestra
March 14, 2026 | 7:30 PM in The Buddy Holly Hall Crickets Theater
Presented by: Grey Hare Analytics and the SS Foundation
Echos of the New World Side-by-side with LYO
March 28, 2026 | 7:30 PM in The Buddy Holly Hall
Presented by: Texas Tech University School of Music & Office of the President
Celebrate America: 1812 Overture & More
May 23, 2026 | 7:30 PM in The Buddy Holly Hall
Presented by: Armstrong Mechanical, Double T Smiles, & United Supermarkets
QUESTIONS? Call (806) 762-1688 or visit our office at 601 Avenue K, Lubbock, TX 79401
These performances are also made possible in part through: The CH Foundation; Helen Jones Foundation, Inc.; The Lubbock Symphony Guild; the Texas Commission on the Arts and National Endowment for the Arts; and a grant from the City of Lubbock, as recommended by Civic Lubbock, Inc.
Violin I
Gavin Kruk Concertmaster
Louis Nicolas
Sophia Saucedo
Tye Terrell
Major Gould
Whitby Burrows
Violin II
Shaylynn Duncan Principal
Jueun Song
Alessandra Lysiak
Harper Morris
Juan Lee
Henry Burrows
Oliver Blanchard
Viola
Julio Castillo Principal
Adalynn Diez
Cello
Katherine Hamilton Principal
Jude Walker
Lian Lee
Daniel Kim Bass
Katherine Butts Principal
VIOLIN I
Gabi Hackworth Concertmaster
Alexandre Ganze
Assistant Concertmaster
Cana Dalton
Falon Lackey
Yarden Dryer
Ayonna Bhattcharya
Eve Rogers
VIOLIN II
Aiden Zhao Principal
Ciana Prado
Alaina McGrew
Selah Dalton
Jason Elder
Olivia Rogers
Madeline Nichols
VIOLA
Meredith Chen Principal
Robin Satterwhite
Benjamin Haggard
CELLO
Hudson James Principal
Makayla Cassity
Chau Ha
Lilah Boller
Pablo del Pino Herrero
Aaron Weiss
Aaron Hall
Zachary Sheng
BASS
Summer Wright Principal
Charlotte Fischenich
Gabrielle Outsey
FLUTE
Lucy Elder Principal
Georgia Lass
Carly DeLeon
OBOE
Katherine Butts Principal
CLARINET
Abi Castilleja Principal
ALTO SAXophone
Helen Siu Principal
Bassoon
Adilynn Sell Principal
TRUMPET
Hopper Luna Principal
Zaida Smith
Trombones
Kate Nelson Principal
Pascual Gamez
Baritone Horn
Alex Johnston
TUBA
Connor Roberts Principal
PERCUSSION
Geoffrey Wallace Principal
Samuel Ioppolo
William Guess
Ezekiel Ramirez
Sarah Anglin
Violin I
Kevin Zhao Concertmaster
Isaac Martens* Assistant Concertmaster
Aditya Ramkumar*
Esther Spiegel
Ellie Bak
Leo Kim
Levi Rogers
Violin II
Joy Anderson* Principal
Mia Pamperin*
Makayla Cassity
Brenden Lewis
Travis Rogers
Katie Bubany
Davis Burrows
Viola
Ollie Billings* Principal
Brandon Briones
Robin Satterwhite
Hadassah Garcia
Azra Balcioglu
Aleah Flores
Cello
Thomas Bruning* Principal
Nathan Herrera*
Luke Roden
Evyn Lewis
Izeyah Galvan
Carson Williams
Victor Arcos
Simon Hollers
Andreas Sizer
Aubrie Romo
Bass
Christopher Hammons* Principal
Vera Rose Giemza
Flute
Karson Eleuterius Principal
Keian Bautista
Carson Parr
Oboe
Mikayla Roberts Principal
Denham Nino
Andrew Hull
Clarinet
Jace Alger+ Principal
Carson Hickman+
Alyssa Thompson
BASS
Clarinet
Tristan Duran
Bassoon
Ritodoy Bhattacharya
Principal
Sean Bobb
Ray Wang
Horn
Miguel Rocha+ Principal
Gracie Salazar+
Trumpet
Abby Shipp Principal
Lexi Jackson
Zavian Holmes
Grisnima Bajagai
Trombone
Logan Uziel Principal
Abbi Clevenger
Oliver Flores
BASS Trombone
Reagan Horst
Tuba
Caden Flowers Principal
Percussion
Geoffrey Wallace Principal
Samuel Ioppolo
William Guess
Ezekiel Ramirez
Sarah Anglin
Harp
Marianne Fisher Principal
*Also assisting Prelude
+Also assisting Philharmonic
Flute
Karson Eleuterius Principal
Keian Bautista
Carson Parr
Lucy Elder
Georgia Lass
Carly DeLeon
Oboe
Mikayla Roberts Principal
Denham Nino
Andrew Hull
Clarinet
Jace Alger Principal
Carson Hickman
Alyssa Thompson
Abi Castilleja
BASS Clarinet
Tristan Duran
Alto Saxophone
Helen Siu Principal
Bassoon
Ritodoy Bhattacharya Principal
Sean Bobb
Ray Wang
Adilynn Sell
Horn
Miguel Rocha Principal
Gracie Salazar
Trumpet
Abby Shipp Principal
Lexi Jackson
Zavian Holmes
Grisnima Bajagai
Hopper Luna
Zaida Smith
Major Gould
Trombone
Logan Uziel Principal
Abbi Clevenger
Oliver Flores
Kate Nelson
Pascual Gamez
BASS Trombone
Reagan Horst
Baritone Horn
Alex Johnston
Tuba
Caden Flowers Principal
Connor Roberts
Percussion
Geoffrey Wallace Principal
Samuel Ioppolo
William Guess
Ezekiel Ramirez
Sarah Anglin
2025-26 Lubbock Symphony Masterworks Series: Echos of the New World
March 28, 2026 | 7:30 PM at The Buddy Holly Hall
Presented by: Texas Tech University
School of Music & Office of the President
Violin I
Isaac Martens Concertmaster
Aditya Ramkumar
Esther Spiegel
Ellie Bak
Leo Kim
Levi Rogers
Violin II
Joy Anderson Principal
Mia Pamperin
Makayla Cassity
Brendan Lewis
Travis Rogers
Katie Bubany
Davis Burrows
Viola
Ollie Billings Principal
Brandon Briones
Robin Satterwhite
Hadassah Garcia
Cello
Thomas Bruning Principal
Nathan Herrera
Luke Roden
Evyn Lewis
Izeyah Galvan
Carson Williams
Bass
Christopher Hammons
Principal
Vera Rose Giemza
Flute
Karson Eleuterius
Keian Bautista
Oboe
Mikayla Roberts
Clarinet
Carson Hickman
Alyssa Thompson
Bass Clarinet
Tristan Duran
Bassoon
Ritodoy Bhattacharya
Sean Bobb
Horn
Gracie Salazar
Trumpet
Lexi Jackson
Trombone
Abbi Clevenger
Bass Trombone
Reagan Horst
Tuba
Caden Flowers
Timpani
Geoffrey Wallace
Percussion
Greta Guilliams (LYO Coach)
Samuel Ioppolo
William Guess
Harp
Marianne Fisher
All region 16
Joy Anderson
Victor Arcos
Ellie Bak
Keian Bautista
Ayonna Bhattacharya
Ollie Billings
Sean Bobb
Brandon Briones
Thomas Bruning
Katherine Butts
Makayla Cassity
Meredith Chen
Abbi Clevenger
Cana Dalton
Pablo del Pino Herrero
Carly DeLeon
Karson Eleuterius
Oliver Flores
Izeyah Galvan
Pascual Gamez
Vera Rose Giemza
Major Gould
Chau Ha
Gabi Hackworth
Aaron Hall
Nathan Herrera
Carson Hickman
Reagan Horst
Andrew Hull
Lexi Jackson
Hudson James
Leo Kim
Falon Lackey
Georgia Lass
Evyn Lewis
Kate Nelson
Denham Nino
Carson Parr
Aditya Ramkumar
Connor Roberts
Mikayla Roberts
Miguel Rocha
Luke Roden
Eve Rogers
Levi Rogers
Olivia Rogers
Travis Rogers
Gracie Salazar
Robin Satterwhite
Sophia Saucedo
Adilynn Sell
Zachary Sheng
Zaida Smith
Logan Uziel
Aaron Weiss
Carson Williams
Summer Wright
Aiden Zhao
All State Qualifiers
Jace Alger
Ritodoy Bhattacharya
Tristan Duran
Caden Flowers
Christopher Hammonds
Abby Shipp
Alyssa Thompson
Kevin Zhao
LSO patrons are cordially invited to the 48th Annual Lubbock Arts Festival, April 18-19, 2026, at the Civic Center. Tickets & More Information: LubbockArtsFestival.org
