OAKLAND – The Mid Maine Youth Orchestra will present two performances of its 2007-2008 program – the first on Feb. 29 at the Messalonskee High School Performing Arts Center in Oakland and the second on March 2 at the University of Maine at Farmington.

Both concerts are free and open to public.

Founded in 1984, the Mid Maine Youth Orchestra is an auditioned full symphony that brings together talented music students from grades 7 through 12.

This year’s program will start with the energetic “St. Lawrence Overture” by Robert Washburn, followed by the first movement of Mozart’s “Paris” Symphony, “Rhosymedre” by Ralph Vaughn Williams and the Peer Gynt Suite by Edvard Grieg. The program will conclude with highlights from the popular musical “Wicked” by Stephen Schwartz.

Both concerts will be conducted by Mid Maine Youth Orchestra Conductor Andrew Forster and by associate conductor Steven Muise.

The Friday, Feb. 29, concert will begin at 7 p.m., with a snow date of March 1. The March 2 concert will begin at 3 p.m. in Nordica Auditorium on the university campus, with March 9 as a snow date.

For more information about the orchestra and upcoming concerts, contact Brenda Fekete, orchestra manager, at blfekete@colby.edu or call 495-2117.