Sounds of the symphony

SANDUSKY — Firelands Symphony Orchestra performed Saturday evening with a guest appearances by a gifted, young cellist. The Hope for a New World concert took place at Sandusky High School's auditorium. It featured works by composers Camille Saint-Saëns, David Popper and Antonín Dvořák. Guest cellist Sterling Elliott joined the orchestra for Saint-Saëns' "Havanaise," a piece originally written for violin, and Popper's "Hungarian Rhapsody." Elliott, a 22-year-old from Newport News, Virginia., is the 2019 winner of the Sphinx Competition's senior division. The competition is open to black and latinx classical string players, according to its website. The top prize in the senior division, ages 18 to 30, is also called the Robert Frederick Smith Prize. It comes with a $50,000 prize as well as the opportunity to play with major orchestras. Elliott has played internationally in Canada, Israel and China. "It's great," Elliott said when asked to describe Sandusky. He said he loves smaller cities like Sandusky, and noted they have a high level of being tight-knit. After the two pieces accompanied by Elliott, the orchestra performed the four movements of "Dvořák's Symphony No. 9." The work is popularly known as the "New World Symphony." A tape of New World Symphony flew to the moon with Ohio-native Neil Armstrong aboard Apollo 11 in July 1969. Firelands Symphony Orchestra's next offering, Melodic Languages of Love, will take place at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 26 at Sandusky High School's auditorium. Violinists Ilya and Olga Kaler will make guest appearances for the performance. The concert will feature works by composers Tchaikovsky, Manuel de Falla, and Moritz Moszkowsky. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased from the orchestra's website or on the day of the concert at the door.