David Newman conducts the American Youth Symphony performing the music of Jerry Goldsmith in 2011.

Throw on that Starfleet uniform and head over to Royce Hall! On Sunday, September 27, Los Angeles’ own American Youth Symphony takes center stage to perform Michael Giacchino’s score for  Star Trek Into Darkness. The performance, live to picture, will be conducted by David Newman, who also happens to be a sought-after composer for film, with credits including Ice Age, Tarzan and Serenity.

The show is part of the nationally touring “Star Trek: Live In Concert” experience that goes on to Nebraska, Michigan and Montana after Los Angeles, where Star Trek Into Darkness makes its live symphony premiere. Jon Burlingame, film-music history professor at the University of Southern California and reporter for The Film Music Society, hosts and will hold a pre-concert Q&A with the audience. Composer Giacchino will be attending as a special guest. Proceeds benefit the AYS.

“I was so excited when David (Newman) called to say that the American Youth Symphony wanted to perform Star Trek Into Darkness live to picture,” Giacchino said. “What a thrill to give these incredibly talented rising professionals an opportunity to perform the Los Angeles premiere of a project that has been played by some of the finest orchestras in the country, such as The Philadelphia Orchestra and The National Symphony Orchestra, a project that has been heard in cities all over the world from London to Melbourne, from Houston to San Francisco.”

Giacchino added that, to him, it is “particularly meaningful that this type of event be presented in Los Angeles, the home of film music. The American Youth Symphony does a tremendous service by including film score music in their programs to ensure that audiences can experience the breadth of orchestral music available today. ”

Ticket sales for a 7 p.m. dinner party with Giacchino, Newman, Burlingame, musicians, and friends will also benefit the AYS while serving as the gala launch of the group’s 51st season.

The American Youth Symphony has been heralded as “the finest youth symphony on Earth” by KUSC’s Jim Svejda. Formed in 1964 by founding music director and UCLA music instructor Mehli Mehta, it is one of the nation’s most established youth symphonies, comprised of musicians 15-27.  The mission of AYS is to inspire a new generation of players and help them transition from pre-professional to music careers. Pursuant to that goal, the AYS provides paid fellowships to musicians from all over the world and is a destination orchestra for many talented up-and-comers.

Proceeds from the dinner will benefit the YSO, which was founded in 1964 by music director Mehli Mehta, a UCLA music instructor. It is one of the nation’s most established youth symphonies and provides annual fellowships to 100 musicians from around the world.

The “Star Trek Live in Concert” performance begins at 4 PM at UCLA‘s Royce Hall. Click for details about the concert and dinner. You can hear the American Youth Symphony on Soundcloud.