“Ages and Stages” is the name of the next Ypsilanti Symphony Orchestra concert, February 21, and for Music Director Adam Riccinto, it’s all about “different stages of childhood and young adulthood, whether it’s ‘Brahms’ Lullaby’ or a young lady who is showing what she can do in the ‘Carmen Fantasy.’”

The concert is the YSO’s annual Youth Concerto concert, and the young lady in question is 15-year-old Carmen Flesher, who won her spot with the orchestra through Riccinto’s long observance of her as a musician.

“I’ve known her since she was a little girl,” Riccinto said in a recent phone call. “She’s the daughter of our principal cellist, and she’s a wonderful player. We always like to feature young local musicians, whether through competitions or invitation.”

Flesher has attended most of the orchestra’s dress rehearsals or concerts since its 1999 inception, but now she’ll be on stage rather than in the audience. A student at Skyline High School and of violinist Solomia Soroka, she’s also been concertmistress of both the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp and Interlochen orchestras.

Flesher is the soloist in the Sarasate “Carmen Fantasy,” a dashing showpiece that will display her technique and panache as it makes brilliant work of well-known music from Bizet’s opera “Carmen.”

In addition to the Sarasate and the Brahms, the program also includes Ravel’s charming and evocative “Mother Goose Suite” and music from Tchaikovsky’s “Romeo and Juliet” and “Star Wars.”

“It’s not geared to be a children’s concert,” Riccinto said, “but more a program for the kid in all of us. It is going to be a short program, without intermission, and I believe the repertoire is very accessible to people.”

Like the repertoire for the concert, the orchestra itself is very accessible to people. Riccinto said he is always looking for new players for this community orchestra. “Anyone who is interested in playing with the orchestra can see video clips of us on our web site,” he said. “And if they are interested, they can contact us by e-mail. “We have a lot of daytime professionals in other fields who love to play. We’re not the only game in town, but we’re one of the only true community orchestras around.”

Susan Isaacs Nisbett is a free-lance writer who covers classical music and dance for AnnArbor.com.

“Ages and Stages” takes place Sunday, February 21, at 3:30 p.m. at Towsley Auditorium on the Washtenaw Community College campus, 4800 East Huron River Drive, 734-507-1451. Tickets are available online at the YSO web site and at the door: $10 for adults; $5 for students with ID, children 12 and under, and seniors (65). $25 family tickets are also available.