The Texarkana Youth Symphony Orchestra has a new face as conductor with the recent appointment of Steven Bennett.

Bennett, a Texarkana Symphony Orchestra member, has plenty of experience working with young, local musicians. He is the assistant director of bands at Texas High School and the Red Lick Independent School District band director. He is also an adjunct instructor of brass studies at Texarkana College.

“We’ll have music that’s new and exciting,” Bennett said about the music young performers will learn and play. He said concerts are scheduled for December and May with the possibility of an ensemble performance in the spring.

Bennett’s experience includes memberships with the University Symphony Orchestra and Conway Civic Orchestra, and he holds music education and conducting degrees from Harding University and the University of Central Arkansas. He taught for five years in Alabama before coming to Texarkana.

“It will be new for those who’ve never been in that environment,” said Bennett about different types of musicians coming together for a youth symphony.

Students who join TYSO come from the entire area. Musicians ages 10 to 19 are invited to audition.

The TYSO will hold its open auditions for the upcoming season on Thursday, 5 p.m., in Texarkana College’s Stilwell Humanities Building. Audition materials can be found at the TSO Website, www.texarkanasymphony.org under the education and youth symphony section.

TYSO invites all orchestral instrument players to audition for membership.



(For more information, contact the main TSO office at 870-773-3401.)