The award-winning Boardman High School Symphony, Chamber, and Classical Orchestras will present their annual Winter Orchestra Festival on Wed., Dec. 16 at 7:00 p.m. in the Boardman Performing Arts Center.
      The 36-member Chamber Orchestra, featuring the top string players in the BHS Orchestra program, will open the program with the first movement of Leos Janacek’s “Idyll.” They will then perform the entire “Christmas Concerto” by Arcangelo Corelli. The concerto will feature Julian Reyes and Aadam Zocolo on violin, and Simon Pusateri on cello.
      Senior solo competition winner, Vince Huzicka, will then take the stage. He will perform the first movement of “The D Major Viola Concerto” by German composer Karl Stamitz.
      Huzicka is the son of Monica Huzicka and Jeff Huzicka. He began taking private lessons in fifth grade with Bill Amendol, then took lessons with Ms. Leslie Dubiel, and currently studies with Vince Scacchetti.
      Huzicka joined orchestra in fifth grade and has been a part of Boardman’s Symphony and Chamber Orchestras for all four years of high school. In addition, he has played in most of the school musicals, most notably Phantom of the Opera and Nevermore. He also has been a member of the school’s rock orchestra, Project Mayhem, and has played electric viola on the concerts for the past two years.
      Huzicka is the president of the Boardman Orchestra, the head librarian, and is also a manager. He has played in the Youngstown Symphony Youth Orchestra for five years, and has been Principal Chair for the past two years. In 2014 and 2015, he played in the Northeast Ohio Regional Orchestra and was principal chair for the 2015 concert. In Jan., 2016, he will represent Boardman in the All-State Orchestra. Vince also plays in a string quartet with his friends, performing at weddings, dinners, and various other occasions. He teaches private lessons, as well.
      Huzicka has earned a host of laurels, including the Director’s Award in eighth grade, the Most Improved Freshman Award, the Outstanding Sophomore Award, the Section Leader Award in 10th and 11th grades, and the Torch Bearer Award in 11th grade from the Boardman Orchestra. He has participated in OMEA Solo and Ensemble since seventh grade, receiving all Superior Ratings. He won the Maestro Award for solo Viola Performance from the Chicago Heritage Music Festival in Apr., 2015.
      In May, Huzicka and friend Julian Reyes played in the Yehudi Menuhin Seminar at San Francisco State University where they had the opportunity to play with the Alexander String Quartet and the Afiara String Quartet in many master classes. While there, they placed third in the Galante Chamber Music Competition, winning full-tuition scholarships to the university.
      In addition to his involvement in the arts, Huzicka is vice-president of National Honor Society, President of Italian National Honor Society, an executive member of Italian Club, a member of Big Spartan-Little Spartan, a creative writer for the school’s satirical newspaper, The Funyun, and is a varsity member of the Quiz Bowl team. He maintains a 3.94 gpa in school and plans to double major in music performance and economics in college.
      Huzicka will dedicate his Dec. 16 performance to his private teacher, Vince Scacchetti, for his mentorship, artistic talent, and guidance.
      To conclude the Dec. 16 concert, the 114-member BHS Symphony Orchestra will take the stage to perform “Slavonic Dance No.10, Opus 72” by Czech composer Antonin Dvorak, “Egmont Overture” by German composer Ludwig Van Beethoven. In addition to these well-known classical pieces, the group will perform holiday favorites: “Tintinabulations,” “Carol of the Bells” and the timeless classic “Sleigh Ride” by American composer Leroy Anderson.
      Admission is a $3/adults, and $1/students. Pre-schoolers and senior citizens are admitted free of charge.