The Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra will perform the first two concerts of its 33rd season, “Sinfónica,” on Sunday, Nov. 9. The theme of the 2008-09 season is “Americans We,” with the first concert exploring the music of Latin America.

Performances begin at 4 and 7 p.m. in the Blizzard Theatre in the Elgin Community College Arts Center, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin. Tickets can be purchased at the ECC box office in the Arts Center, by phone at (847) 622-0300, or online at www.elgin.edu/arts. They cost $21, $16 for seniors, and $12 for students. Tickets may be purchased in advance or on the day of the event.
  
 The  4 p.m. performance features the Prelude Orchestra with the Youth Symphony Strings and the Philharmonia. EYSO alum and conductor Beth Mazur Wood will be violin soloist. The 7 p.m. performance features the Brass Choir, Youth Symphony and the Elgin-based Ballet Foklorico Huehuecoytl. The dance troupe is an In Residence Ensemble at ECC. The troupe will perform Huapango, a traditional Mexican folk dance, to the music titled “Huapango” by Moncayo. Visit www.bfh.org to learn more about the unusual ballet ensemble.

The Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra, an In-Residence Ensemble in the Arts Center at ECC, is home to four orchestras and a brass choir with nearly 300 students from 60 communities. Its executive director is Kathy Matthews of St. Charles.