Lakewood Symphony is pleased to announce our upcoming concert on Thursday, April 3, at 7:30 pm at the Lakewood Cultural Center. This is our annual Sister Cities Music Scholar Competition Concert, a student exchange program open to Jeffco residents 16-23 years of age. Our Jeffco winner this year is Joanna Johnson, a viola student, who is a senior through distance-learning at Thomas Edison State College. Joanna will perform the Viola Concerto by William Walton with the Lakewood Symphony.

Our exchange program is with Lakewood's Sister City, Chester, England. This year we are pleased to welcome Jonathan Guy, a clarinetist, and a student at England's Vale College. Jonathan will perform the Clarinet Concerto No. 1 by Carl Maria von Weber.

Jonathan arrives from England on Friday, March 28, and will stay with local families until April 7. While he is here, he will visit a few schools to perform and chat with students. He will also perform for the Lakewood Rotary Club, one of the sponsors of the Sister Cities program. His host families will share local sights and activities with him, making him a part of their family. Hosts this year are Jennifer and Jack Sylman, returning for their 6th year as hosts, and Natalie and Bill Hill, hosts for three years. Last year's Jeffco winner, Katie Marble, is looking forward to renewing her acquaintance with Jonathan, whom she met last year in England.

Joanna will travel to Chester in June for two weeks, where she will similarly perform and experience life in the Chester community. Before she leaves for England, Joanna will give a recital at the Lakewood Cultural Center on the evening of June 15. The recital is free and open to the public.

Also on the Lakewood Symphony program is George Gershwin's An American in Paris. This is a dazzling piece of music, complete with vintage taxi horns from the early part of the 20th century. For you movie buffs, Gene Kelly gave a wonderful performance set to this music in the movie of the same name.

Sponsors of the Sister Cities Music Scholar Competition and are Lakewood Sister Cities, Lakewood AAUW, Lakewood Rotary, the City of Lakewood, Jeffco Schools, FirstBank and SCFD. Members of the organizing committee are Barb Jensen from Lakewood Sister Cities, Dianne Baker from Lakewood AAUW, Chris Christiansen from Lakewood Rotary, Susan Martin and Debbie Koop from the City of Lakewood, and Kris Edwards from Jeffco Schools, and Mary Anne Fleet from Lakewood Symphony.