YOUNGSTOWN, OH (August 18, 2023 – On Thursday, September 21, 2023, at 7:30 pm, Your Youngstown Symphony Orchestra will open its 2023/2024 Season with a concert like audience members have never seen before. Thorgy Thor and the Thorchestra features repertoire ranging from Brahms to Bruno Mars and Leonard Bernstein to Lady Gaga, highlighting special guest artist Thorgy Thor, and led by guest conductor, Lawrence Loh.

Thorgy Thor, a New York City based drag performance artist, TV personality, and professional musician, began studying classical violin at a young age. Thorgy studied at University of Hartford, Hartt School, in Connecticut before graduating from the State University of New York, Purchase Conservatory, with a Bachelor of Music in both viola and violin performance in 2006. Since then, she has created a persona presenting unique performances for theater, film, cabaret, and nightlife entertainment. An explosive performer who loves to lip-sync just as much as create collaborative performance art that combines drag, music and comedy. In 2018, the show Thorgy and the Thorchestra was created in collaboration with Canadian conductor Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser, making its debut with Symphony Nova Scotia in Halifax. The show blends orchestral performances of traditional and modern classical repertoire and contemporary pop songs and has also been performed with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra, Charlotte Symphony Orchestra and has debuted a solo show at Gramercy Theater in NYC in 2019.

Joining Thorgy on stage is vocalist Katy William who made her debut with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra in September 2005 with Mendelssohn’s Midsummer Nights Dream and has been a frequent guest artist ever since. Williams also sang with Pittsburgh Opera, Civic Light Opera, Quantum Theater, and River City Brass Band. She has also had the frequent pleasure of singing with Maestro Larry Loh’s Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic and in Syracuse, NY with Symphoria!

At the podium, guest conductor Lawrence Loh will make his debut with Your Youngstown Symphony. Current Music Director of Symphoria, the successor to the Syracuse Symphony, Lawrence Loh has helped to build a 21st century model of a modern symphony orchestra. Appointed Assistant Conductor of the Pittsburgh Symphony in 2005, Mr Loh was quickly promoted to Associate and Resident Conductor within the first three years of working with the PSO. Always a favorite among Pittsburgh audiences, Loh returns frequently to his adopted city to conduct the PSO in a variety of concerts.

Individual tickets as well as season subscriptions are available now. Season Subscriptions range from $100 to $220 plus fees, individual tickets for this concert range from $18-$63 plus fees. Tickets can be purchased Monday through Friday, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm by calling 330-259-9651, or in person at The DeYor Performing Arts Center box office. Tickets are also available 24 hours a day online at youngstownsymphony.com

Season Underwriting opportunities are available and include program advertising, premium tickets for performances, and invitations to exclusive VIP events. For more information, contact Marleen Ocheltree, Marketing and Sponsorship Coordinator at fundraising@youngstownsymphony.com or by calling 330-747-5175.