For Philip Thompson the idea was simple: If you're going to direct a young orchestra, then the music should be more contemporary.

Thompson says contemporary arrangements empower young musicians, providing them with the feeling that the music is more engaging.

		Fine Arts Youth Ministry When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Where: Sewickley United Methodist Church. Admission: Free; 412-741-9430.

On Saturday night, Thompson, who directs the Fine Arts Youth Ministry Orchestra at Sewickley United Methodist Church, will present "Bethlehem: A Gospel Opera," composed by Akin Euba, an Andrew W. Mellon professor of music at the University of Pittsburgh.

The orchestra will be joined by the church choir and guest artist and soprano Dana Lundquist, bass baritone Richard Teaster and drummer Anicet Mundundu.

Chris Nickell, a student at Sewickley Academy, will also present a composition he wrote titled "A Cultural Sketch of Medieval Spain."

Nickell's composition explores scales and modes of both Muslim and Christian musical traditions.

Euba's "Bethlehem" emerges from the folk opera tradition of Yorubaland in Southwestern Nigeria and is closely related to African church music. "Bethlehem" was originally written in 1984 and premiered at the National Theatre in Lagos.

Euba says the piece was originally written for a jazz combo.

"We didn't have the money and resources to present it in its entirety. When I left Nigeria in 1986 I brought it with me, and I have been carrying it around with me wherever I went."

Last summer Euba started working on the opera again and hopes to be able to present the complete work in a couple of years.

Because of time constraints, Thompson says the orchestra will only perform four of the seven movements: "The Annunciation," "Mary's Song," "The Birth of the Christ" and "The Shepherds."

"This is a piece that I felt I could get to work for our mix of musicians," says Thompson. "It also introduces them to another musical culture and a contemporary African musical culture."

FAYM is an ecumenical Christian ministry that helps young people to discover through participation the relationship between faith and art. The orchestra is composed of about a dozen students and five adults, some of whom are the parents of young musicians.

The orchestra consists of students ranging from 5th to 11th grade and draws from young players across the area.

"Sewickley United Methodist hired me to lead this group," Thompson says, "and they made it clear they wanted it to be something for the community."