There will be new faces on the podium when Southeastern Minnesota Youth Orchestras season opening concert, "Unfinished," is presented Sunday at Lourdes High School.
Ernesto Estigarribia is the new conductor of of the Concert Orchestra, and Sarah Gifford is the new leader of the Philharmonic Orchestra. Estigarribia is also SEMYO's new artistic director, taking over for Adam Lange-Pearson, who retired after 16 years at the helm.
Estigarribia is a native of Paraguay who holds music degrees from Pittsburg State University and the University of Minnesota. He is a doctoral candidate in orchestral conducting at the U of M.
Gifford is a Rochester native and Mayo High School graduate. She has been band director at Breckenridge, Minn., public schools the past three years. In addition to her SEMYO position, Gifford is an associate clinical research coordinator at Mayo Clinic.
Sunday's concert is at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for senior citizens, $5 for students, and $35 for a family, available at the door.
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