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WINSTON-SALEM — The Winston-Salem Symphony and Youth Symphony will perform together for a “Concert for Community” at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 25. Under the baton of new Music Director Tim Redmond and Mark Norman, interim youth orchestras program director, the program will feature the combined professional and youth symphonies, totaling approximately 128 musicians, performing multiple pieces.

The concert is free and open to the public and will take place at Wait Chapel on the Wake Forest University campus. Although the concert is free, go to the symphony website at WSsymphony.org to reserve your ticket.

“Concert for Community is a terrific concept. This concert brings together the remarkable talent of both seasoned performers and emerging talents and allows the audience to experience extraordinary music for free,” said Redmond. “Attendees will enjoy a selection of delightful pieces beautifully performed by our talented professional musicians and our gifted youth orchestra members, who represent tomorrow’s stars. In addition, they will have the chance to hear the Peter Perret Youth Talent Search winners perform, whose talent and poise are remarkable. This concert is a wonderful opportunity to hear incredible music performed by masterful musicians for free!”

The Winston-Salem Symphony, conducted by Norman, will open the concert with of “Enigma for Symphony Orchestra” by the 2019 UNCSA composition contest winner Jacob Hinson. The 2019 Peter Perret Youth Talent Search winners will then take the stage with the Winston-Salem Symphony under the baton of Redmond. Alexander McDowell, a 13-year-old violinist and the junior division winner (ages eight to 13) will perform the first movement of Samuel Barber’s Violin Concerto, Op. 14. Fifteen-year-old Cristian Makhuli, a pianist and the winner of the senior division (ages 14 through senior year of high school), will perform Piano Concerto No. 1 in E flat Major, S. 124 by Franz Liszt.

The annual Youth Talent Search, named in honor of former Winston-Salem Symphony Music Director Peter Perret, was developed to identify the region’s most gifted and talented young musicians, to develop young talent, and to recognize and support the teachers and families of musically gifted children. Participation in the competition also provides students with experience and motivation to continue their musical studies. Many have gone on to become professional musicians, including the winner of the very first Peter Perret Youth Talent Search, who is now a member of the New York Philharmonic.

“This year’s winners of the Peter Perret Youth Talent Search are terrific musicians, and I am thrilled to share them with concert goers,” said Redmond. “Alexander McDowell brings a maturity and skill well beyond his years to Samuel Barber’s poignant Violin Concerto. Cristian Makhuli’s impressive technique and profound artistry will be on full display when he performs Franz Liszt’s Piano Concerto No. 1, in E flat Major. I am also thrilled that the symphony will present a remarkable piece by young composer Jacob Hinson.”

For the second half of the concert, the Winston-Salem Symphony and the Winston-Salem Symphony Youth Symphony will combine to play Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s beloved Symphony No. 5 in E Minor, Op. 64. Norman will conduct the first two movements and Redmond will conduct the final two movements.