Atypical Maestros

They may be playing Aaron Copland’s “Fanfare for the Common Man,” but these young musicians are anything but common.

In honor of the late composer’s 100th birthday Tuesday, the 80-member CSUN Youth Philharmonic will perform works Sunday by Copland and his instructor, Nadia Boulanger.

“The works are extraordinarily difficult and you would not associate them with a youth orchestra,” said Jerry Luedders, the music department chairman who has directed the Youth Philharmonic at Cal State Northridge for 11 years. “They require complex use of rhythms and extreme ranges,” he said. “That is usually something that is reserved for university or professional players.”

The concert also celebrates the 30th anniversary of CSUN’s three youth orchestras, founded in 1970 by concert violinist Joyce Osborne and her husband, Thomas Osborne, a music professor at Pepperdine University. The Philharmonic, the Youth Symphony Orchestra and the Camerata Strings draw top musicians from Agoura to Glendale to Santa Monica.

Of the three youth groups, the philharmonic is the most advanced and generally admits only high school students.

But there are exceptions, including three from one family in Granada Hills. The youngest members of the orchestra are Emma Bobbs, a 9-year-old cellist, and her sister, Katrina Bobbs, 12, who plays violin.

Their 17-year-old brother, Philip Bobbs, a cellist, joined the orchestra at 10. The most difficult part of performing Copland’s “Outdoor Overture” is “to get the character of the piece,” Katrina said. “Lots of people can play the notes of a piece, but probably a kid who doesn’t have too many worries can play that excitement and know what it’s like to have lots of fun.”

The three youth orchestras at CSUN do not compete for awards but instead focus on the learning process, said Melanie Demick, youth orchestra manager.

But many of the young musicians have competed independently and won awards for their accomplishments. Sunday’s performance will also include works by Cecile Chaminade, Edvard Grieg and Johannes Brahms.

BE THERE

The CSUN Youth Philharmonic performs Sunday at 3 p.m. at the Cal State Northridge Performing Arts Center, 18111 Nordhoff St., Northridge. Tickets $10, $5. Call (818) 677-2488.