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The Pasadena Young Musicians Orchestra showcased its impressive talent in a tribute to famous American movie scores on Sunday afternoon in Sexson Auditorium. The musicians, mostly high school students between the 10th and 12th grade, performed “Lights! Camera! Music!” for a receptive audience of more than 300, according to the orchestra President Lisa Gladstone.

The theme from director Stanley Kubrick’s “2001: A Space Odyssey,” “Also Sprach Zarathustra,” by Richard Straus, seemed an appropriate beginning and set the concert off to a good start.

Freshly back from a performance at New York’s Carnegie Hall, Estelle Chae, a senior at San Marino High School, momentarily stole the stage with her exceptional piano skills in “Piano Concerto in A Minor, Op. 16” by Edvard Grieg.

The musicians, however, gave a striking performance in the more dramatic portions of the song.

According to Veronica Ota, 18, PYMO viola player and soon to be Tufts freshman, it was one of her favorite pieces in the concert.

“The piano concerto was very challenging,” Ota said. “Everything was so melodic. We really had to focus on our musicality.”

Possibly the most invigorating performance was a medley of John Williams songs.

Williams composed numerous famous movie themes, including “Jaws,” “Star Wars” and “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” according to guest conductor and music coach Johnny Ng.

Tuba player Eric Yin, 16, particularly liked the Williams tribute.

“He’s one of the best movie song writers there is,” said Yin.

The theme from Broadway musical and movie “Chicago,” however, highlighted the strengths of each orchestra section. Written by John Kander and conducted by music coach Jorge Sotelo, the performance was lively, whimsical and undeniably confirmed the remarkable quality of its young players.

The performance, conducted by PCC music instructor and PYMO music director Jo Stoup and five PYMO music coaches, pleased parents and grandparents alike.

Stoup was also pleased and told the audience at the end of the concert, “It is such a pleasure and delight to work with these young people.”

There was, however, a slightly bittersweet element to the successful end-of-season concert.

According to PYMO President Gladstone, 35 members of the orchestra are expected to graduate this spring and have all been accepted to other colleges.

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