Celebration! by Zandra Zieman-Foster (Acrylic on Canvas)

Youth Symphony Commissions Painting to Commemorate 30th Anniversary The Colorado Springs Youth Symphony Association has crossed artistic disciplines to add even more excitement to its 30th Anniversary Celebration. Appropriately entitled Celebration!, Zandra Zieman-Foster’s 26" x 34" Acrylic on Canvas painting uses the modern-day Pikes Peak Center concert hall stage as its setting and depicts students who have performed with Youth Symphony ensembles over its 30 years of history. "We’re delighted with what Zandra has created," said Judith Light, who sits on the Youth Symphony’s Board of Directors and chairs the 30th Anniversary Celebration Committee. "We embraced the idea of commissioning a painting and after some preliminary inquiries, realized it would ideal to have one our "family" be the artist. Zandra knows and loves this organization and she has true artistic passion. We absolutely made the right choice." Zieman-Foster has two daughters who are part of the Youth Symphony program. Eliza, 17, plays violin and Nina, 14, plays cello. A short time after Eliza began performing in ensembles, she heeded the call for parent volunteering that is consistently voiced by Executive Director Debi Krause-Reinsch. "I couldn't stop myself from jumping in and volunteering where needed," said Zieman-Foster who served on the Parent Council Chair and became parent representative on the organization’s Board of Directors from 2007-2009. "My husband Angus, who plays the double bass, has also volunteered as a camp counselor, and continues to coach bass sectionals. This year, both of our daughters are in the Association’s top ensemble, the Youth Symphony, and will tour Australia - so now we are all hooked!" Zieman-Foster received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Fine Arts from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs and currently serves as adjunct faculty for Pikes Peak Community College and is a regular participant in regional art exhibits. She also is an accomplished pianist and clarinetist who studied music on scholarship at Dakota Wesleyan University. "It’s always been a dream for me to combine music and painting," she said. "Creating Celebration! was tremendously fun for me."

Zieman-Foster has donated the painting to the Youth Symphony and there will be a limited edition run of museum quality Giclée Prints produced by nationally-renowned HayCreek Editions. The prints will be available for purchase after the painting is officially unveiled at the Youth Symphony’s Celebratory Luncheon on Sun., March 14 (details below).

"I love what Zandra has done," said Gary Nicholson, the Founder and Music Director of Youth Symphony who was depicted on the extreme left side of Celebration!. "It has been a real kick identifying all the musicians in the painting. I found myself taking a trip back in time." In fact, when the painting is exhibited in the lobby of the Pikes Peak Center during the March 14 concert with the United States Air Force Academy’s Blue Steel, there will be contest to see who can name the most musicians depicted in Celebration!. The winner will receive one of the Giclée Prints.