MARQUETTE, Mich. (WZMQ) – A special guest will be playing with the Marquette City Band this week during their children’s concert.
When you hear Ryo Morita play it might sound like it’s coming from a long tenured professional musician. But she’s actually a recent highschool graduate. The musician who attended highschool in Ann Arbor won a State wide soloist competition last year.
“She is a great trumpet player and we’re really looking forward to having her as a special part of our program,” remarked Steve Grugin, the Director of the Marquette City Band.
Morita will be heading to Juliard, one of the premier performing arts schools in the world, in the fall, but for now she’s making a stop in the U.P. to join the Marquette City Band.
“I’m really excited to play with the band,” added Morita. She also expressed her thanks to Grugin for giving her the opportunity to play in the Upper Peninsula.
Moritas trip has been funded by a grant from the Community Foundation of Marquette County. The young performer is joining the band for one of the best concerts of the year.
“We love doing our children’s concerts, we have a big audience and we have children of all ages, and we have music that will appeal to younger folks,” commented Grugin.
The band will be playing music from the Lion King, Star Wars, and other popular compositions children will recognize and enjoy. Morita will be performing her award winning solo during the concert as well as two pieces by Louie Anderson, which she says the audience should be excited for.
“It’s a very fun song, it’s very light and playful and I think everyone will enjoy it,” Morita said.
The Marquette City Band not only performs their children’s concert here in Marquette, they also bring the performance to the Bay Cliff Health Camp and put on a private concert for the campers as well.
The children’s concert is set to start tomorrow night at 7:30 at the Presque Isle Bandshell. A rain location has been set for the Reynolds recital hall on NMU’s campus.
