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Susan H. Day Big Sky Country

Winter Concert

Feb. 8, 2026

3:00 PM

min

Conductors

Susan Wines & Joshua Miller

Kathryn Griesinger Centrifuge 3 min

Brian Balmages Hey Fiddle Fiddle 2 min

Soon Hee Newbold Desert Sands

Alan Lee Silva When Lightning Strikes

Soon Hee Newbold The Iliad 6 min

Vincenzo Bellini, ed. Harry Peters

Oboe Concerto in E-flat Major 8 min I. Risoluto allegro featuring Kylie Fowler, oboe

Camille Saint-Saëns

Danse Bacchanale 9 min

John Powell, arr. Sean O'Loughlin How to Train Your Dragon

min

Big Sky Country Susan H. Day

Inspired by the vast landscapes of the American West, Big Sky Country paints a musical picture of open plains, rolling hills, and endless blue horizons. The soaring melodies and warm harmonies reflect the beauty, freedom, and quiet majesty of wide-open spaces. Susan Day’s writing invites listeners to imagine themselves standing beneath a sweeping sky, taking in the calm and wonder of nature’s most spacious views.

Centrifuge

Kathryn Griesinger

Centrifuge is an exhilarating musical ride that spins the listener into a whirlwind of motion and momentum. Rhythmic intensity drives the piece forward, mimicking the rush of a rapidly turning machine—or the dizzy feeling of being pulled outward by centrifugal force. With its pulsing energy and tight, dynamic interplay between sections, Griesinger’s work keeps audiences on the edge of their seats from the first note to the last.

Hey Fiddle Fiddle Brian Balmages

Playful, lively, and full of personality, Hey Fiddle Fiddle celebrates the joy of folk fiddling. Inspired by traditional American fiddle tunes, Balmages blends catchy melodies, energetic rhythms, and toetapping fun into one charming package. Whether it’s the lighthearted bowing, the jaunty phrases, or the dancing tempo, this piece brings a cheerful spirit that feels like a front-porch jam session come to life.

Desert Sands Soon Hee Newbold

Desert Sands transports the listener to sweeping dunes, ancient ruins, and the mysterious world of faraway deserts. Newbold’s signature writing shines through in the exotic scales, rhythmic percussion effects, and haunting melodies that evoke drifting sands and blazing heat. The piece feels both adventurous and atmospheric, inviting listeners into a musical journey filled with color, movement, and a touch of intrigue.

The Iliad is a vividly programmatic orchestral tone poem that brings Homer’s

Electric and dramatic, When Lightning Strikes captures the raw power of a storm in motion. From sudden flashes of sound to rumbling crescendos, the music mirrors the unpredictability and excitement of lightning tearing across the sky. Silva’s dynamic contrasts and rhythmic drive create an atmosphere charged with energy, portraying the moment when nature unleashes its most spectacular force.

When Lightning Strikes Alan Lee Silva

of conflict. The work opens with a bold invocation, as strong, grounded motifs in the low strings and brass establish a sense of inevitability and heroic resolve, drawing on open intervals and modal colors that evoke antiquity. As the music accelerates, driving ostinati and sharply articulated rhythms propel the listener into the chaos of battle, with fragmented thematic material passed energetically among the orchestra to suggest opposing forces and relentless motion. A contrasting middle section offers lyrical reflection, where sustained melodies and warmer harmonies—often voiced in upper strings

COMPOSED 2025

APPROXIMATE DURATION 6 minutes

Oboe

Concerto Vincenzo Bellini (1801-1835)

COMPOSED c.1823

APPROXIMATE DURATION

8 minutes

Have you ever wondered what would happen if you mixed an opera and orchestra together? The Oboe Concerto in E-flat Major, written by Italian composer Vincenzo Bellini, can be described as exactly that. Bellini, whose music was said to have inspired Chopin, impressed Wagner, and flattered Verdi, wrote this piece around 1823 while he was a young man studying in Naples. It is his only surviving instrumental concerto, and it was written for solo oboe with an accompanying orchestra. After its composition, Bellini went on to become a renowned opera composer of works such as Norma and I Puritani. His focus on the passionate human voice and bel canto style can be heard echoed throughout this piece, for it weaves smooth melodies and stark contrasts together into an emotional song made for the unique timbre of the oboe. In this piece, two distinct sections

Danse

Bacchanale

Camille SaintSaëns (1835-1921)

Camille Saint-Saëns’s Bacchanale is the electrifying orchestral centerpiece from Act III of his opera Samson et Dalila, composed in 1877 and inspired by the biblical story of Samson’s betrayal and downfall. Set during a lavish festival honoring the Philistine god Dagon, the Bacchanale depicts a scene of excess and ritualized frenzy, standing in stark contrast to the moral gravity of the surrounding drama. Though brief, the piece has achieved an independent life in the concert hall, celebrated for its rhythmic vitality and masterful orchestration.

The movement opens with a hypnotic melody introduced by solo winds over a softly pulsing accompaniment, immediately establishing an atmosphere of mystery. Saint-Saëns employs modal inflections, augmented intervals, and chromatic turns to evoke an imagined Near Eastern sound world. This opening theme gradually intensifies through layered textures and increasingly animated rhythmic figures, drawing the listener into the ritualistic dance. As the Bacchanale unfolds, swirling string passages, glittering woodwind flourishes, and emphatic percussion propel the music forward, building a sense of unstoppable momentum.

can be heard following a dramatic opening. The first is smooth and lyrical, highlighting the expressive ability of the oboe, while the second explores the technical abilities of the performer. I hope you enjoy my rendition of this concerto as much as I have enjoyed playing it.

Kylie Fowler

Rhythm plays a central role throughout the piece, with persistent ostinati and shifting accents creating a fascinating sense of dance-like motion. Saint-Saëns expertly balances restraint and release, allowing tension to accumulate before unleashing full orchestral force. The climactic sections feature brilliant brass writing and driving percussion, culminating in an expert display of orchestral color that mirrors the ecstatic abandon of the onstage celebration. Despite its celebratory surface, the music also foreshadows tragedy; beneath the revelry lies the impending collapse of Samson’s strength and destiny.

John Powell’s score for How to Train Your Dragon is widely regarded as one of the most expressive and symphonically rich film scores of the twenty-first century. Written for the 2010 DreamWorks Animation film, the music plays a central role in shaping the story of Hiccup, a young Viking who challenges tradition by forming an unexpected friendship with a dragon. Powell’s score blends sweeping orchestral writing with rhythmic energy inspired by Nordic folk traditions, creating a sound world that is both heroic and deeply emotional.

In this concert arrangement by Sean O’Loughlin, Powell’s most recognizable themes are thoughtfully adapted for youth orchestra while preserving the score’s dramatic impact and sense of momentum. The soaring main theme—often associated with flight, freedom, and self-discovery— emerges prominently in the strings and brass, evolving from tentative beginnings to confident, triumphant statements. Driving rhythmic figures in the lower strings and percussion evoke the rugged physicality of Viking life, while lyrical passages provide contrast and emotional depth.

O’Loughlin’s orchestration highlights clarity, balance, and ensemble cohesion, allowing young musicians to experience the cinematic sweep of Powell’s music. Woodwinds contribute warmth and agility, brass reinforce moments of heroism, and the string section shifts between energetic propulsion and expressive lyricism. The arrangement captures the emotional journey of the film—conflict, wonder, and ultimate triumph—making it a compelling and rewarding work.

How to Train Your

Dragon

John Powell (1953-)

The Concerto Competition is held annually in the fall and is open only to members of the Symphony Ensemble in the Youth Orchestra. The Concerto Competition is used to select soloists to perform with the Youth Orchestra at the scheduled winter and/or spring concerts.

Kylie Fowler is a current junior at Chesnee High School. She began her musical career on the clarinet, but she has now transitioned to oboe and occasionally mellophone. She has made the Region Band three seperate times: two times for oboe and once on clarinet. She was also named to the AllState band this past year and currently studies oboe with Dr. Kelly Vaneman. She participates in many ensembles including her high school's 2025 silver medalist marching band and honor bands held at universities such as Furman University and the University of South Carolina. Alongside her musical prestige, Kylie is also a very active student within Chesnee High. Aside from her high academic ranking, she was also named Beta Club secretary and Student Body treasurer this past year. She loves learning new things, drinking coffee, and spending time with her family, friends, and pets. She would like to thank you for your support of the arts, and she hopes to see you again at future SPYO concerts.

Some cities celebrate their war heroes, others their sports stars, but in Spartanburg, it’s all about our musicians. Head out on the Spartanburg Music Trail, a 30-minute outdoor walking tour of the city’s incredibly robust music history. With your GPS enabled smartphone, you’ll be directed to each colorful marker to learn about the artists and hear the music that lifted them onto the national stage. You’ll also discover opportunities for side trips to further explore our musical heritage.

The Spartanburg Music Trail honors musicians from Spartanburg who have made a national or international impact in the world of music. The stops highlight artists in such genres as country, gospel, soul, rock ‘n’ roll and more. Ultimately, the trail will circle the downtown as new inductees are added.

Violin I

Luke Gardner*, Principal

Charlotte Clementson*,

Assistant Principal

Britton Matthews*

Jennifer Lopez*

Jolene Yang

Harrison Pack*

Maliyah Buckley*

Kendall Aguiar*

Emma Newsome*

Violin II

Ethan Truong*, Principal

Joshua Vázquez*,

Assistant Principal

Rover Morlino*

Claire Carman

Bobby Flandry

Anthony Burgess

Brooke Bryant

Jeannie Buttimer

Maiya Johnson

Wallace Massengill

Felipa Perez - Campos

Ava Eckerich*, Principal

Kyndall Thomas*,

Assistant Principal

Viola

Mathias Arellanos Gutierrez*, Principal

Lily Hoffee*, Assistant Principal

Carl McLean*

Cailinn Griswold*

Nandhan Muruganathan*

Lillian Long*

Liam Sewell*

Bentley Pierce

Lucas Covington

Amy Sic Tumax

Matthew Soberanis

Isael Erreguin Pérez

Tio Dye

Cello

Briana Marquez*, Principal

Aiden Burow*,

Assistant Principal

Zoey Ofori*

Raven LeBon*

Peyton Allen*

Madi Saad*

Leena McRoberts*

Destiny Williams

Isabella Derrick

Bryson Kiehl

Cooper Huang

Jillian Potter Bass

Victoria Vazquez*

Colsen Long

Hannah Simpson, Director of Education & Community Engagement

Sectional Coaches

Audrey Bass

Michelle Tate Cockram

Jennifer Diehn

Kathy Foster

Allison Key Adena McDaniel

Bob Borden, SPYO Manager

Addison Wilson

Mary Scott Strickland

Patrick Jung

Leonardo Wright

*Prelude Honors

Bill & Valerie Barnet

George Dean & Susu Johnson

Nelly Zimmerli Anonymous

Angela Rex

Eric Schultz

Aaron Yackley

Darian Washington

Ashlyn Scheuch, Site Coordinator

Audition Judges

Audrey Bass

Jessica Martin

Tina Pulley

Bill Scott

Flute

Addyson Posey

Sunny Harrison

Mason McNeilly

Analiz Garza

Oboe

Kylie Fowler

Ella Bowen

Horn

Matthew Price

Emma Green

Henry Wilson

Trumpet

Eden Vander Ploeg

Jack Cooper

Mabry Patterson

Holley Loftis

Blaire Goin

Rodolfo Yanez-Dera

Violin I

Zoe O’Brien, Principal

Kate Lancaster, Assistant Principal

Jackson Lui

Angelique Farmer

Ella Hayes

Nicholas Catto

Abby Clemsontson

Vittoria Stamille

Madison Raynor

Sam Strickland

Hector Perez

Anna Barber

Violin II

Jonathan Steadman, Principal

Jade Aparicio-Edwards, Assistant Principal

Eva Burnett

Samuel Sushinskiy

Scarlett Spencer

Jackson Sewell

Wren Sikma

Legend Davis

Leah Keen

Ellison Sellars

Meagan Lennon

Addison Simcheck

Malachi Shuler

Grace Velting

Joey Lesley

Delaney Zibell

Harp

Alina Kashirets

Clarinet

Nancy Mae Flippin

Bryan Avalos - Barrera

Kathryn Spivey

Karina Artega Bassoon

Micah Whitfield

Clara Saad

Garbriela Garmise

Trombone

Chris Depra

Ethan Pegram

Drew Gordon

Bryson Olmstead

Tuba

Emilio Perez-Salas

Clara Matz

Percussion

Michael Velting

Hayden Bean

Nolan Crum

Adena McDaniel*

Viola

Michael Depra, Principal Lincoln Heck, Assistant Principal

Sophia Keller

Hayden Peace

Jordi Vazquez-Perez

Nahomi Blanco

Piper Lemons

Catherine Arenas

Cello

Zarina Bogomaziuk, Principal

Gracie Buttimer,

Assistant Principal

Lily Cothran

Rylee Potter

Sarah Lowery

Adyson Cloninger

Bridge Keller

Zayden Emsopheap

Reese Bennett

Ella Kern

Britany Garcia Mesa

Solomon Smith

Ervin Gonzalez

Layla Ferguson

Alexander A. Arenas-Vitela

Sebastian Cartwright, Principal

Chase Eckerich, Assistant Principal

Jessica Riley

Zoey Ofori

*Sectional Coach Bass

Zimmerli Series Espresso Series

Event

February

Youth Orchestra Bluegrass Spartanburg

Date Venue

Authentic Unlimited Fri 2/20 Chapman Cultural Center

Voices of a Nation Fri 2/27 Twichell Auditorium

March

Best of Broadway Sat 3/21 Twichell Auditorium

Murder at the Philharmonic Fri 3/27 Chapman Cultural Center

April

SPYO: Spring Concert Sun 4/19 Twichell Auditorium

Chatham Rabbits Thurs 4/23 Chapman Cultural Center

American Dreams Sat 4/25 Twichell Auditorium

Susan Wines

SYMPHONY CONDUCTOR

As a native of Spartanburg, Susan Wines’ enthusiasm for music and teaching began as a double bass player at Boiling Springs Middle School. Her eagerness and excitement for music continued to develop through teacher encouragement as well as participation in several honor orchestra opportunities throughout the state.

With nearly two decades of youth orchestra experience, it is with excitement that she joins the Spartanburg Philharmonic Youth Orchestra community as the Symphony Conductor at her alma mater - Converse University. Susan Wines holds a Bachelor of Music in Instrumental Music Education from Converse University, two Master of Education degrees from the American College of Education, and is pursuing a Doctorate of Music Education from Liberty University.

In addition to being the Director of Orchestras at Byrnes Freshman Academy, she enjoys being an adjudicator for performance assessments, a mentor for pre-service teachers, and a guest clinician across the nation. She was instrumental in creating many student-centered music activities such as Greenville County’s All-County Honor Orchestras, SC ASTA Double Bass Workshop, as well as the annual SC ASTA Orchestra. Ms. Wines serves as the Executive Director of the SCMEA Orchestra Division and past president of the South Carolina Chapter of SC ASTA.

She has been recognized as a WYFF Golden Apple Teacher Award Recipient, Teacher of the Year, Music Club of Greenville’s Golden Note Award Recipient, South Carolina High School League’s “Heart of the Arts Award,” and most recently, the recipient of the Yamaha “40 under 40” national music educator recognition.

Joshua Miller

PRELUDE CONDUCTOR

Although he didn’t originally set out to become a teacher, he received his Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education from Furman University. While in college, his plan was to become a dentist until he finally listened to the encouragement of those around him to consider teaching. The choice to become an orchestra teacher turned out to be one of the greatest decisions of his life. After graduation, Dr. Miller began his career in Anderson School District One teaching orchestra for grades 5-12.

In 2016, he moved back to his hometown and joined the faculty at Spartanburg School District Two. As a music educator, he holds two main philosophies: kids who trust you can learn anything, and fundamentals are key to musical success. He currently serves as an Assistant Principal at Roebuck Elementary School in Spartanburg School District 6.

In 2021, he was selected by his peers and administration to serve as Teacher of the Year. And this past year, he received the honor of being the WYFF News 4 Teacher of the Year. During his years as an orchestra teacher, his performance groups have earned numerous awards. Dr. Miller and his wife (Raven) currently reside in Inman, SC, with their son (Asher) and daughter (Ayla). He enjoys watching as much Netflix as possible and spending time with his family.

Abner Creek Middle School

Lucas Covington, Viola

Briana Marquez, Cello

Emma Newsome, Violin

Jillian Potter, Cello

Florence Chapel Middle School

Isabella Derrick, Cello

Jackson Lui, Violin

Ethan Pegram, Trombone

Kyndall A. Thomas, Bass

Byrnes Freshman Academy

Zoey Abena Ofori, Cello/Bass

Carl McLean, Viola

Mason McNeilly, Flute

James F. Byrnes High School

Sunny Harrison, Flute

Lincoln P. Heck, Viola

Matthew Price, Horn

Spotlight: Carrera Stamile

Today we are catching up with Carrera Stamile, Spartanburg Philharmonic Youth Orchestra (SPYO) alumnus ‘24 and current music performance major at Converse University. When I first met Carrera, she was playing percussion in our Youth Orchestra and spreading joy at every SPYO rehearsal. Carrera played alongside Kenneth Overton during the “La Mer” concert iin September, and you may have seen her at Music Lover’s Luncheon, on WSPA, or heard her on NPR!

Q. Tell us about you! Where are you from and how did you get into music?

A. I am a classical mandolinist from Spartanburg, South Carolina. Ever since I was very young, life surrounded me with music and the sounds of instruments. My household was filled with creativity, and I grew up with a fascination for music and art. At the age of three, I was given my first instrument - the violin. For eight years, I studied violin before switching to mandolin. Since then, so much has happened, and I take such great joy in exploring music and discovering myself through my instrument. In taking the love of my first instrument and transferring its inspiration to the

Hannah Simpson Director of Education & Community Engagement

mandolin, I have become very dedicated to interpreting the violin’s vast repertoire on the mandolin - as both instruments are tuned the same. The new colors and textures that the mandolin brings to this music is something truly special and full of endless possibilities.

Q. How did your time at SPYO help prepare you for Converse?

A. The years I spent with SPYO connected me as a musician even closer to the community around me. I made countless friends among the students as well as the faculty/teachers affiliated with the symphony. SPYO also gave me the opportunity as their Concerto Competition winner to perform a violin piece for the very first time on mandolin with orchestra - Praeludium and Allegro by Fritz Kreisler. Needless to say, I still have not been cured of the ‘performing bug’ I seem to have caught many years ago!

Q. What was it like to play onstage with the Philharmonic in September at the “La Mer” concert?

A. The experience performing with the Spartanburg

Philharmonic alongside award-winning baritone Kenneth Overton was an unforgettable moment for me. Being originally from Spartanburg and growing up on concerts from the Spartanburg Philharmonic, I felt as if surrounded by family. Don Giovanni’s aria accompanied by the innocent serenade of the mandolin embodied a sort of perfection in that short moment of time.

Q. Tell us about what you’re working on now! Any performances coming up?

A. Right now, I am studying new solo and chamber pieces for the upcoming concerts. I am also focusing on my studies here at Converse University while learning this new music - primarily centered on violin repertoire, performing constantly, and entering competitions. Coming up, I will perform as a soloist with the Converse Symphony Orchestra, at Sigal Music Museum, and with the Converse Wind Ensemble. I will also be performing in December (2025) in Philadelphia as second mandolinist with the Atlantic Mandolin Quartet.

Q. I know you’ve got a great story about your current mandolin - tell us about your instrument!

A. My instrument is very special to me…it was built in Modena, Italy by luthier Carlo Mazzaccara. With the

help of the Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award, I was able to come to own it a few years ago! This instrument, which Mazzaccara refers to as a Double Top, is built in the style of the Israeli mandolins built by Arik Kerman. Its deeply rich, intimate sound has so much to bring to the music that I study, and I am grateful to have it.

More about the Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award: Each year From the Top’s Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award Program provides 20 outstanding young musicians with a $10,000 scholarship to support advanced musical training. Award recipients are also featured on the organization’s flagship radio broadcast “From the Top” distributed by NPR, performing alongside host and Cooke Alum, Peter Dugan.

Q. What do you dream about doing after college?

A. For me, the dream and the plan is to get my masters degree abroad, studying mandolin performance on an even higher level. Following this, my long term goal is to travel, performing as a soloist and as a chamber musician across different countries. Through this, I seek to create a spotlight on the mandolin as a major classical performing instrument in the United States.

From left: Carrera with Kenneth Overton, John Concklin, and Jamarcus Gaston on WSPA's Your Carolina; Carrera performing her concerto with the Youth Orchestra (2023); Carrera jamming with the Kruger Brothers before the performance; Carrera with Kenneth during the Sept. 2025 concert; Kenneth and Carrera preparing to go on Your Carolina.