Photos and Text by Sarah Beth Yoder

February 15, 2008 – After an early morning rehearsal, violinist for the Handel and Haydn Society Orchestra, Jane Starkman rests her eyes before the start of Friday’s Handel and Haydn Participatory Youth Concert at Boston Latin School. Three area high school choirs came together to sing works by Mozart including Missa Brevis in C Major as a part of Handel and Haydn’s Educational Outreach Program.

February 15, 2008 – Hundreds of students from Boston Latin School filled their auditorium Friday morning to hear the Handle and Haydn Society Orchestra perform works by Mozart with three area high school choirs, including Boston Latin’s. “They were really good,” said Boston Latin student Kelly Higgins. “It’s fun to see my friends up there with so many other student singing such a difficult piece of music. They look like they’re having a lot of fun.”

February 15, 2008 – John D. O’Bryant High School freshman, Nia Richardson was very enthusiastic about singing in Friday’s Handel and Hayden Participatory Youth Concert at the Boston Latin School. “We’ve been working really hard with Mr. Dillon, our director, to learn all these notes,” said Richardson. “Sometimes it would get really frustrating but the concert was fun and something that I’ll never forget.”

February 15, 2008 – World renowned conductor, John Finney, directs the combined high school choirs and the Handel and Haydn Society Orchestra at Friday’s Handel and Haydn Participatory Youth Concert. Finney has been the Handel and Haydn Society’s Chorusmaster since 1990 and looks forward to this youth concert every year. “It’s a unique experience to perform very difficult works, like Mozart’s Missa Brevis, with young singers,” said Finney. “The students put a lot of energy into this performance and are always eager to learn about the work and the art of singing. It’s very freshening for me.”

February 15, 2008 –Soprano Teresa Wakim and alto Emily Marvosh sing solos at Friday’s Handel and Haydn Participatory Youth Concert at Boston Latin School where three Boston-area high school choirs and the Handel and Haydn Society Orchestra performed works by Mozart, including the Missa Brevis in C Major. Wakim and Marvosh frequently perform with the Handel and Haydn Society at Symphony Hall but also take part in Handel and Haydn’s Outreach Programs such as this youth concert.