YOUNGSTOWN, OH (Friday, October 21, 2022): On Sunday, November 20th at 2:30 pm, Your Youngstown Symphony Orchestra (YSO) will take the Concert Hall stage in Stambaugh Auditorium to bring an experience of serene musical masterwork composition to the audience with A Journey Serene, led by returning guest conductor Dean Buck.

The deep colors and calm breeze of harvest time create sensations of peace felt through Libby Larsen’s Deep Summer Music. A journey in itself, Mahler’s Lieder eines Fahrenden Gesellen (Songs of a Wayfarer) will take the audience through the emotions of love and loss. The concert will close with Brahms’ Symphony No. 2. Composed lakeside in 1877, scenes of peace and tranquility are painted in this classical work.

Buck is a Cleveland-based conductor, now serving his fourth season as Assistant Conductor and Chorus Master with Cleveland Opera Theater. His conducting has been described as “fearless and firm,” (Cleveland Classical,) and “maintaining a constant, flexible rapport with singers.” (New York Observer.) With Cleveland Opera Theater, he has worked as assistant conductor/chorus master on their productions of “La Boheme,” “La Traviata, “Madama Butterfly,” “Il Barbiere di Siviglia,” and “The Threepenny Opera.” He has additionally served as Music Director for Cleveland Opera Theater’s {NOW} Fest for the past two seasons, supervising premiers, workshops and performances of works by such composers as Evan Mack, Dawn Sonntag and Griffin Candey. He holds a masters degree in orchestral conducting from the Cleveland Institute of Music.

Buck stated, “I am incredibly excited to be working [again] with the YSO. This program is a journey as its title entails. Larsen’s Deep Summer Music sets the tone of pastoralism. Although we are in the Autumn, the timbre and sonority of Larsen’s music evokes the beauty of the convergence between music and nature.” Adding, “From there we continue with Mahler’s Lieder eines Fahrenden Gesellen. Mahler’s score is beautiful, at times charming, at times quite haunting, but always informed by the rustic. Brahms’ second symphony, often compared to Beethoven’s 6th, is one of the pinnacles of pastoralism in 19th century romanticism. There are episodes of tranquility, yearning, fun, and wonder, all culminating in a wonderfully exciting finale!”

Individual tickets range in price from $22-$52 plus fees. Tickets are on sale now, 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.