The concert, which is Sunday, March 22, at 4 p.m. in Lehman Auditorium, includes music composed by alumnus Anthony VanPelt, a local musician, composer and teacher, and several alumni musicians joining the ensemble. Alumni, parents of alumni and past conductors of the symphony will be recognized, with a reception following. A $7 donation in support of the youth symphony is requested.

The Youth Symphony includes 42 members with students from Rockingham, Augusta, Shenandoah, and Page counties as well as West Virginia. The Junior Strings ensemble is an intermediate-level group with 13 members from Harrisonburg and Rockingham County.

Both groups are part of , which was started by Wanda Teague Alger`81 in her local music store. It became a part of the university鈥檚 in 1989. The orchestra formed in 1990, partly funded by a grant from the .

For two women who have been involved in the program for years, the opportunity is especially unique.

鈥淚t is rewarding to look back and see the hundreds of students who have been involved in the symphony,鈥� says , who has been a violin-viola teacher since 1989, program director since the orchestra鈥檚 first year in 1990, and conductor of the Junior Strings ensemble since its inception in 2001. 鈥淢ost students in our area would not otherwise have the chance to participate in such a group and play some of the great music written for orchestra. And it鈥檚 exciting to know that an organization with a small beginning has grown into what it is today and is still vibrant.鈥�

鈥淪ome students that have passed through the youth symphony program choose to continue music as a profession,鈥� says , symphony conductor since 2002. 鈥淥thers move on to different careers, but no matter what path they choose, music remains in their souls and helps them to become better individuals.鈥�

The Program

The program features 鈥淪ymphony No. 1鈥� by Mozart and several selections from the musical, 鈥淔iddler on the Roof,鈥� played by the Junior Ensemble; and several selections by the symphony, including 鈥淥verture to Nabucco鈥� by Verdi; the 鈥淩ussian Easter Overture鈥� by Rimsky-Korsakoff; and the first movement from the 鈥淰iolin Concerto in E Minor鈥� by Mendelssohn, featuring soloist Lillian Hughes.

Lillian, a senior at , describes her solo as 鈥渕ournful鈥� and 鈥渨istful,鈥� with a 鈥渂eautiful soaring melody鈥� and a 鈥渧irtuosic ending.鈥�

The daughter of Chris and Mary Hughes, Lillian has studied violin for 13 years through the Shenandoah Valley Preparatory Music Program and been a member of the symphony for six years, serving as co-concertmaster for the past two years. She currently studies with .

She first soloed as a 5-year-old, playing 鈥淪ee the Pretty Flowers鈥� for a preparatory music program spring recital. The experience was memorable, she says: 鈥淚 remember being horribly nervously beforehand, but it all turned out fine in the end.鈥�

Lillian has gone on to great success in her musical auditions, which have resulted in selections in two All-State Orchestras and one All-State Chorus, four Senior Regional Orchestras, and the Virginia Governor鈥檚 Summer School for the Performing Arts. She plans to study music and biochemistry in college.

This special celebration concert will also feature a work written by local teacher and composer Anthony VanPelt, who was a member of the youth symphony for its first five years. The ensemble will perform the first movement from VanPelt鈥檚 “New Market.”

In addition, the symphony will perform the winning composition from the New Music for Young Musicians Composers Competition held at James Madison University this year. The chosen work, 鈥淩emember Who You Are鈥�, was written by Chris M. Cerreto, a current JMU student.

The 42-member youth symphony, part of听, will perform Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Snow Maiden: Dance of the Tumblers,”听Ludwig van Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 5, 4th movement,” Lennie Niehaus’s “Americana Rhapsody,” and Pyotr Ilyich听Tchaikovsky’s “Capriccio Italien.”

Hannah Fenoff, harp, will perform “Concerto in B-flat for harp” by George Frideric听Handel.

The orchestra, conducted by听, a violin teacher with preparatory music, consists of high school musicians from Page, Shenandoah, Rockingham and Augusta counties, and parts of West Virginia.

The SVCC听Treble Choir will perform Handel’s “Alleluia! Sing! Rejoice!” and Cynthia Gray’s “Hush My Babe.” In addition, the SVCC Concert Choir will perform Henry Purcell’s “Sound the Trumpet!,” the English traditional carol “Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day,” and “Christmas is Coming,” and a Silesian folk melody, “Eatnemen Vuelie.”

The children’s choir and youth orchestra听will close by joining together to perform Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring,” and听James听Bernard’s “Winter Wonderland.”

About the soloist

Hannah Fenoff is an active member of the American Harp Society and is in her third year with the youth orchestra. She has received superior ratings from the National Federation of Music Clubs and received a scholarship to attend the Young Artists Harp Seminar.

Hannah is the daughter Daniel and Susan Fenoff of Franklin, West Virginia.听She is active in the community, playing harp for a variety of events and volunteering at the Pendleton County Library. Hannah plans to attend college next fall to pursue a degree in harp performance.

A suggested $7 donation at the door will benefit EMU鈥檚 preparatory music scholarship program and SVCC tuition assistance fund.

The goal is educational in two parts: It’s not only for the two groups to learn from each other, but for both to learn from a new audience. An added bonus, of course, is that the audience has an opportunity to experience both groups for the price of … well, nothing.

The Fall Concert to be held at 4 p.m. Nov. 24, is free and open to the public; donations will be collected benefiting scholarships for students in the programs.

Last year, SVCC did not participate in the Fall Concert due to a busy performance schedule.

The show will feature the local singing ensemble’s concert and treble choirs, which will take stage following a performance by the entire 50-person youth orchestra at EMU’s Lehman Auditorium.

“Our kids … get to hear the orchestra, and the orchestra gets to hear the choir,” said Joy Anderson, assistant director of the Shenandoah Valley Children’s Choir, explaining the benefits of the group’s joint concert with the symphony.

“Even though I think there’s a lot of overlap in the audience, it’s a different audience.”

The children’s choir consists of three choirs and two classes – only the eldest two perform during the Fall Concert. The treble choir has about 33 students, typically ages 9 to 14, while the concert choir rounds out to roughly 60 participants, usually 11- to 18-year-olds.

Public, private and home schoolers come from as far as Staunton, West Virginia and Lexington to participate in the group, according to Anderson.

“Most big cities have a civic children’s choir program, but it’s not as typical to have it in more of a small city,” she explained, adding that the SVCC has travelled as far as Italy and Hawaii, and performed at Carnegie Hall and the White House.

“We’re really happy to be performing with the orchestra,” she said. “It’s a nice way to kind of kick off the holiday season.”

The youth orchestra consists of students from 7th to 12th grades, typically, although one particularly gifted 7-year-old is currently involved, according to , administrative director for and manager of the youth symphony.

This year’s orchestra soloist – a position set aside for a high schooler on his or her way out of the program – will be Caleb Schrock-Hurst, a senior at . The symphony includes students from many local high schools, as well as home-schoolers, the occasional middle-schooler and local college students who fill in the blanks.

For some parts, especially the brass positions, high school students at the level necessary to join the group don’t audition, Miller explained.

Courtesy Daily News Record, Nov. 16, 2013

The junior strings ensemble, under the direction of , will play a classical selection by Albinoni and two contemporary pieces. This intermediate-level group has members from Augusta, Rockingham and Page counties.

The youth orchestra will perform a movement of 鈥淪ymphonie Espagnole鈥� by Lalo featuring Mariette Southard, portions of the 鈥淪ummer鈥� Concerto by Vivaldi featuring Nathaniel Oberholtzer, the 鈥淥verture to Rienzi鈥� by Wagner, Washburn鈥檚 鈥淣ew England Holiday鈥� and 鈥淒anz贸n No. 2鈥� by Marquez.

“A unique feature of the concert will be the Latin American piece 鈥淒anz贸n No. 2鈥� never performed before in this area,” said Sharon Miller, administrative director of the preparatory music at EMU. “It is based on the rhythm of danz贸n, a Cuban dance form, written by the Mexican composer, Arturo Marquez. The work features solos by individual orchestra members as well as sections of the orchestra. Numerous percussion instruments as well piano add to the exciting rhythms and Latin flavor. This is a piece , instructor in preparatory music, heard often while growing up in Venezuela.”

Lorcas conducts the orchestra whose members are from Rockingham, Augusta, Shenandoah and Page counties and West Virginia.

About the soloists

Nathaniel Oberholtzer, violin, and Mariette Southard, violin will be the featured soloists during the evening鈥檚 concert.

Oberholtzer is the son of Roger and Doris Oberholtzer. A senior at , he is the class president and is a member of the National Honor Society, the school orchestra and has participated in regional orchestra ensembles. A member of the EMHS Touring Choir, Oberholtzer was chosen for the All Virginia Choir. He has been a member of the youth orchestra for five years and is currently an intern with the Shenandoah Valley Preparatory Music program as a violin teacher. He has studied violin with Lorcas and , PhD, at EMU. After high school, he plans to major in pre-med.

Mariette Southard is the daughter of Michael and Pam Southard. A senior at , she is a member of the National Honor Society and the Tri-M Music Honor Society. Southard is a member of the Turner Ashby Singers, the Chamber Choir and the Wind Ensemble. She has been a member of the youth orchestra for nine years and has been selected by audition for the Senior Regional Orchestra and the All-Virginia Orchestra. An active solo performer, Southard has participated in several honors recitals and competitions. She has studied violin since 1997 through EMU鈥檚 preparatory music program, currently studying with Griffing. After graduation, Southard plans to study violin performance in college.

A $5 donation is requested at the door to assist in the operation of these groups. There will be a reception for the audience following the concert.

History of Shenandoah Valley Youth Orchestra

The youth orchestra began in 1990 as a strong ensemble and in part through a grant from the . The ensemble grew to a full orchestra in its next season and is the only opportunity for instrumental students to participate in such a group this side of Charlottesville and Winchester.

The preparatory music program has over 400 students enrolled this year in instrumental lessons, and the youth orchestra. Students become members by audition and perform three or four public concerts per year. Rising seniors may audition to play a solo with the orchestra.

Sharon Miller is the program director. Inquiries to the youth orchestra should be made to 540-432-4277 or prepmusic@emu.edu.

The spring concert will open with selections from the 17-member Junior Strings Ensemble. Directed by Sharon Miller, assistant professor of music at EMU, they will perform a work by Vivaldi and 鈥淗ickory Variations鈥� by William Harbinson.

“It’s amazing to hear the progress of the students from year to year and see them develop leadership skills within the ensembles,” said Miller.

The 43-member youth orchestra, directed by , will play Concerto for violin in G Major by Haydn, featuring Celia Turner, and the Concerto for violin in A Minor by Accolay, featuring Will Montgomery. They will also perform the Academic Festival Overture by Brahms, the Berceuse and Finale from 鈥淭he Firebird Suite鈥� by Stravinsky and L鈥橝rlesienne Suite No. 2 by Bizet.

The Shenandoah Valley Youth Orchestra and Junior Strings ensemble are part of EMU鈥檚 .

A five dollar donation is requested at the door to assist in the operation of these groups.

For more information contact the preparatory music program at 540-432-4277 or email preparatorymusic@emu.edu.

Featured soloist – Celia Quinn Turner

Celia Quinn Turner is the daughter of Ronald and Peggy Turner. A senior at Broadway High School, Turner has played in the orchestra for two high school musicals. She is a member of the National Honor Society and is an officer in the World Languages Society.

Turner began studying violin at the age of three in the EMU Suzuki program and has attended the Blue Ridge Suzuki Camp at Orkney Springs for 11 years. She currently studies with , DMA, chair of .

Turner is a trained Suzuki teacher and teaches in the preparatory music program. She is also a member of two local bluegrass groups (Celia Quinn and the Brocks Gap Boys and Many Nights Ahead) that have performed locally.

Turner plans to major in Information Analysis and minor in foreign languages in college.

Featured soloist – Will Montgomery

Will Montgomery is the son of Dr. Greg and Karen Montgomery. A senior at Eastern Mennonite High School, he is concertmaster of the orchestra, sings in the Touring Choir and the Chamber Choir and is a member of the student-run a cappella group, UMAC.

Montgomery was a violin student of Lorcas and currently studies with Griffing. He has been a member of the youth orchestra for six years and plays in a string quartet.

An active athlete, Montgomery has been captain of the EMHS varsity soccer team and was first team all-conference in golf. He was named VISAA Division II State Soccer Player of the Year and was recently the WHSV-TV3 Student-Athlete of the Week.

A National Honor Society member, Montgomery plans to study medicine in college.

The 33-member youth symphony, part of , will perform George Frideric Handel鈥檚 “Music for the Royal Fireworks Overture” and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky鈥檚 Dances from “The Nutcracker.” In addition, Dance & Company will perform four of the dances.

Nicholas Gardner, oboe, will perform 鈥淐oncerto for Oboe in A minor鈥� by Antonio Vivaldi and Breton Nicholas, French horn, will perform 鈥淢orceau de Concert鈥� by Camille Saint-Saens.

The Orchestra, conducted by , a violin teacher with preparatory music, consists of high school players from Page, Shenandoah, Rockingham and Augusta counties. EMU and James Madison Universitystudents will also participate in addition to several community members.

, Artistic Director and Founder, will conduct the concert choir in “Viva la Musica,” by Michael Praetorius; “Laudamus Te (Duet from Gloria),” by Vivaldi, arranged by Doreen Rao; “Blow, Blow Thou Winter Wind,” text by William Shakespeare and music by John Rutter; and “Sesere eeye,” a traditional song and dance from the Torres Straight Island, arranged by Matthew Doyle.

The Treble Choir set will include “The Heavens Declare,” from William Selby, arranged by Barbara Owen; “I Will Bring You Brooches,” text by Robert Louis Stevenson and music by Ruth Boshkoff; and “Sourwood Mountain,” a southern folk song arranged by Shirley McRae with Lorcas on violin.

The fall concert is a precursor to the SVCC Christmas Concert with the Washington Symphonic Brass Quintet 7 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 3, and 3 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 4, in Lehman Auditorium.

A suggested $5 donation at the door will benefit EMU鈥檚 Preparatory Music scholarship program and SVCC tuition assistance fund.

About the soloists

Breton Nicholas is an active member of both the National Honor Society and National Spanish Honor Society and HHS Tri-M music honor society. He attended the 2011 Summer Residential Governor’s School for the Humanities at Radford University and the 2009 Valley Ridge Summer Regional

Governor’s School in Environmental Science at JMU.

Nicholas co-founded the HHS Bike Club and Rocktown Racing and earned a varsity letter in swimming. He is in his fourth year as a member of the HHS Symphonic Band, playing first chair horn the last two years. Nicholas has been first chair horn in both Harrisonburg city and Rockingham County Honors band and District band last year.

In addition, he is an active member of Boy Scout Troop 40 of Harrisonburg and will have completed all requirements for the highest award, Eagle Scout, by December of 2011. Nicholas hopes to study music and science in college. He is the son of and .

Nicholas Gardner is a senior at Spotswood High School (SHS). He has played oboe in the concert and Symphonic bands at SHS since his freshman year. He is in his seventh year of private instruction and has been a member of the EMU Youth Orchestra since the spring of 2010. In the spring of 2011, he was awarded the medallion and academic awards for music at SHS.

Gardner held the position of luminary chairman for the Rockingham County Relay for Life in 2011 and is a member of the National Social Studies Honor Society and the National Spanish Honor Society.

Gardner is a member of Boy Scout Troop 40 where he is finishing requirements for his Eagle Scout rank. He has held the position of senior patrol leader and was on the team teaching the Boy Scout鈥檚 National Youth Leadership Training program. He plans to study music education in college. He is the son of Nichola and Richard Gardner.

History of

The orchestra began in 1990 as a strong ensemble and in part through a grant from the . The ensemble grew to a full orchestra in its next season and is the only opportunity for instrumental students to participate in such a group this side of Charlottesville and Winchester. Students become members by audition and perform three or four public concerts per year.听 Rising seniors may audition to play a solo with the orchestra.

This semester the Orchestra has partnered with to perform four dances from “The Nutcracker.” It is a unique opportunity for dancers to perform to live music and for musicians to have their music interpreted before a live audience. On October 23, they presented a “Musical Treats” concert in costume for about 75 area children.

is the program director. Inquiries to the Shenandoah Valley Youth Orchestra should be made to 540-432-4277 or prepmusic@emu.edu.

More on the

The SVCC is part of the music department at 草莓社区.听 The SVCC includes over 150 children in three auditioned choirs and two classes for young children, a staff of five and a rigorous performing and touring schedule.

The SVCC鈥檚 fifteenth compact disc entitled 鈥溾�� was released October 15, 2011, to mark the twentieth anniversary year.听 A compilation of the last two years of song repertoire, the CD includes both general music and Christmas selections.听 The Preparatory, Treble, and Concert Choirs are featured separately and guests including the Sons of the Day, Washington Symphonic Brass, and guest musicians Nick Merillat and Pedro Aponte are featured.

For more information on SVCC or to order a compact disc visit听 , email svcc@emu.edu or call , choir manager at 540-432-4650.

Families and children of all ages are invited to a concert that will feature excerpts from one of the more famous productions of all time.

鈥淭his year, in addition to the presentation of the instruments, we are having a special performance of three dances from 鈥楾he Nutcracker鈥� in partnership with Dance & Company,鈥� said Maria Lorcas, instructor of preparatory music.

Members of the Youth Orchestra will present their instruments and perform a selection with the full orchestra. The program will last 30 minutes.

鈥淧eople are invited to come in costume and expect a variety of treats,鈥� said Lorcas.

Admission to the concert is free.

For more information contact Sharon Miller, administrative director of preparatory music at 540-432-4220 or millersm@emu.edu.

Four members of the Shenandoah Valley Youth Orchestra who have formed a string quartet will open the concert with selections by Tchaikovsky and Anderson.

The Junior Strings ensemble, directed by Sharon M. Miller, will play several classical selections by Handel and Vivaldi as well as a fiddle tune. This intermediate-level group has 13 members from Shenandoah, Rockingham, Shenandoah and Augusta counties.

The concert will continue with small groups of Youth Orchestra members. A wind quintet will play one number and a brass sextet will perform two pieces.

The 46-member Youth Orchestra, conducted by Maria Lorcas, will perform the 鈥淐oncerto for Oboe in C major” by Haydn featuring Perry Maddox, the 鈥淐oncerto for Cello No. 1鈥� by Saint-Saens featuring Joseph Roth, the Introduction and Finale from 鈥淩omeo and Juliet鈥� by Tchaikovsky and 鈥淪lavonic Dances Nos. 4 and 8鈥� by Dvorak. Students are from Rockingham, Augusta, Shenandoah, Page and Alleghany counties as well as West Virginia.

The featured soloists are Perry Maddox, oboe, and Joseph Roth, cello. Perry is the son of Charles and Martha Maddox. A senior at Broadway High School, he is in the Wind Symphony, Honors Choir, and Jazz Ensemble, and has participated in regional and state ensembles, recently as tenor sax in the all-VA Jazz Ensemble and principal oboe in the all-VA Orchestra. He has taken piano lessons for 11 years and oboe lessons for four-and-a-half years. In addition, he has participated in the Shenandoah Valley Children鈥檚 Choir for five years.

Currently, Perry studies oboe with Rhonda Stees and piano with Dr. Pat Brady. After high school, he plans to double major in music and ecology.

Joseph Roth is the son of Ken and Terri Roth. A senior at Harrisonburg High School, Joseph has been active in sports (cross country, track and tennis) and school clubs (French Club president, Gay Straight Alliance
Club). Joseph was chosen by audition for the South Central Regional Orchestra and has performed in musicals at Broadway High School as well as at Harrisonburg High school. He has taken piano lessons for eight years and cello for six years in the Shenandoah Valley Preparatory Music Program at EMU.

Joseph currently studies cello with Lisa Wright and piano with John Fast. Joseph has been active in the youth group at Community Mennonite Church and participated in a service project in Harlan, KY. After graduation,
Joseph plans to study psychology and then attend medical school.

The Shenandoah Valley Youth Orchestra and Junior Strings ensemble are part of 草莓社区’s Shenandoah Valley Preparatory Music Program.

A five-dollar donation is requested at the door to assist in the operation of these groups.

Admission info

A five-dollar donation is requested at the door to assist in the operation of these music groups.

About the concert

The Junior Strings ensemble, under the direction of Sharon Miller, will open the program with several classical selections by Bach and Moussorgsky and a fiddle tune. This intermediate-level group has 16 members from Shenandoah, Rockingham and Augusta counties.

The concert will continue with the 46-member Youth Orchestra with students from Rockingham, Augusta, Shenandoah, Page, and Highland counties as well as West Virginia. Several students from EMU and James Madison University assist and play with the ensemble.

Both ensembles are part of EMU’s Preparatory Music Program.

This auditioned group, conducted by Maria Lorcas, will perform the “Concerto for Flute in G major” by W.A. Mozart featuring high school senior Sarah DiNapoli; “Jupiter” from “The Planets” by G. Holst and “Capriccio Espagnol” by N. Rimsky-Korsakow. The last piece includes solos for orchestral members, including Rebecca Bauer (violin), James Lambert (clarinet) and Rebecca Snider (flute).

Sarah DiNapoli, featured soloist

Featured soloist Sarah DiNapoli

The evening’s featured soloist is Sarah DiNapoli, daughter of Timothy and Jessica DiNapoli of Harrisonburg. She is the senior class treasurer at Harrisonburg High School where she is a member of the Tri-M Music Honor Society and the National Art Honor Society. A member of the HHS Band and Marching Bands for four years, she served as drum major this year.

She has danced at Dance and Company since the age of 4, volunteered with the Gus Bus and attended the Virginia Summer Governor’s School for Life Sciences and Medicine. Sarah’s flute teachers are Elizabeth Stinson and Rebecca Springer. She has been a member of Shenandoah Valley Youth Symphony Orchestra for two years and has been selected for City-County Honors Band and District Band.

Learn more about EMU’s Preparatory Music Program.

The program will open with selections from the Junior Strings Ensemble, directed by Sharon M.D. Miller. They will join the full orchestra for an arrangement for an arrangement of the old Shaker song, "Simple Gifts."

The 30-member youth orchestra, directed by Maria Lorcas, will play selections from "The Sound of Music" by Rodgers & Hammerstein, "Orpheus in the Underworld" by J. Offenback and the "Viola Concerto in D Major" by K. Stamitz.

Benjamin Roth, featured soloist

Featured soloist on the viola concert will be Benjamin Roth, son of Ken and Terri Roth of Harrisonburg. The 17-year-old homeschooled senior has played the viola for three years and has taken violin and piano lessons for six years with Joan Griffing and Sharon Miller and has had lessons and master classes with Amadi Hummings, Scott Rawls, Che Hung Chen and Diane Phoenix-Neal.

In addition to the youth orchestra, Roth has played in the EMU Community Orchestra 2004-present, the South Central Virginia Senior Regional Orchestra (2005,2006, 2007) and the All-Virginia Orchestra (2007, 2008).

The Shenandoah Valley Youth Orchestra and Junior Strings ensemble are part of 草莓社区’s Preparatory Music Program.

A five dollar donation is requested at the door to assist in the operation of these groups.

More than 100 young people will take part in a Suzuki violin concert 4 p.m. Sunday, May 13, in Lehman Auditorium at 草莓社区.

The students, from 3 to 18 years of age, come from all areas of the central Shenandoah Valley, including Augusta, Bath, Page and Shenandoah counties.

The concert will begin with the most advanced pieces, and more students will be added until all are on stage for the grand finale of “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.” Maria Lorcas, Jessica Trainum and Sharon Miller are the teachers leading the students, along with teaching intern Megan Tiller.

Most of the students are part of EMU’s , a year-round program offering music lessons and ensembles for students of all ages and levels since 1988.

Currently, 320 students are enrolled in various aspects of the program, including Musikgarten (infant – 6 years), the Shenandoah Valley Youth Orchestra and instrumental lessons (violin, viola, cello, piano, guitar, flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet and harp).

The concert will also include students from the Garth Newell Suzuki Program, Hot Springs, Va., taught by Cynthia Penne of Lexington, Va.

EMU’s Preparatory Program also has an Outreach Project, an effort to provide string instrument instruction to students who would not otherwise have the opportunity.

Currently, 48 students receive violin instruction at Stone Spring, Waterman and Keister Elementary Schools and at EMU. Outreach students will also play at the concert and come from the city of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County.

In addition to the partnerships with the city schools, the Outreach Project is supported by the Virginia Commission of the Arts, The Arts Council of the Valley and the Music Gallery.

Sunday’s concert is free and open to the public. For more information, contact the Preparatory Music Program at 540-432-4277 or at .

The 25-member orchestra, conducted by Maria Lorcas, will perform “Carmen Suite No. 1” by Georges Bizet and “West Side Story Suite” by Leonard Bernstein. Ashley Wright will be featured soloist on the “Clarinet Concerto” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and Jessica Hostetter and Sean Hsu will perform “Concerto for Two Violins” by Johann Sebastian Bach with string orchestra.

Ashley Wright

Ms. Wright, the daughter of Douglas and Kimberly Wright, is a senior at Turner Ashby High School and has played the clarinet since sixth grade. Chosen by audition to perform the evening’s featured solo, Wright has been a member of the Youth Orchestra for four years.

A student of Leslie Nicholas, she was chosen by audition for District Band and the All-Virginia Band and has participated in the George Mason University Honor Band. An active student musician, she served as the TA Marching Knights senior drum major this year, performed in bands that accompanied the school musicals the last four years and is a member of the TA Jazz Ensemble. Wright also serves as secretary of TA’s Tri-M Music Honors Society, and she plans to major in music education in college.

The 17-member Junior Strings ensemble, directed by Sharon M.D. Miller, will perform a variety of music including “Rondeau” from “Masterpiece Theater” by Mouret, a Bach chorale and “Fiddle Fest” by local composer James E. Clemens.

Junior string members are from Rockingham, Augusta, Page and Shenandoah counties and from West Virginia.

The Shenandoah Valley Youth Symphony Orchestra is part of EMU’s Preparatory Music Program. The program also includes instrumental music instruction (violin, viola, cello, guitar, flute, clarinet, harp, piano) and Musikgarten (ages birth through 6). Sharon Miller is administrative director for the program that enrolls over 325 students from 6 Virginia counties and West Virginia.

A five dollar donation is requested at the door to assist in the operation of these groups.

Information about the Preparatory Music Program may be obtain from EMU’s web site ()or by calling 540-432-4277.

The Children’s Choir, celebrating its 15th season, will present a program of classical songs, folk songs from several countries and seasonal songs.

The Treble Choir, SVCC’s intermediate choir with 40 children grades 4-7, will sing the baroque work, “The Heavens Declare Thy Glory,” accompanied by trumpet player Daniel Galyen, band director at Bridgewater College. The Austrian Christmas song “The Dark Softly Falling,” and the American Folksong “Jim Along Josie” will also be part of the Treble Choir’s set.

The Concert Choir, with 72 children in grades 6-11, will present a set of music that includes Purcell’s “Sound the Trumpet,” Mozart’s “Laudate Dominum” with soloist Sarah Wingard, the Finnish folksong “Who Can Sail?,” the Serbian gypsy dance “Niska Banja,” and the spiritual “This Train is Bound For Glory” featuring soloist Betsy Barrett.

Choirs Combine

The two choirs will join to present a combined song “Sahayta,” which means “helpfulness” in Sanskrit. “Sahayta” will include 10 languages emphasizing concepts of peace, greetings, cooperation, music, and dance, and soloists from both choirs; guest percussionist Andrew Richardson from James Madison University will be featured.

The 30-member Youth Symphony, conducted by Maria Lorcas, will perform excerpts from Handel’s “Music for the Royal Fireworks”, an arrangement of “Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring” by Bach and Brahms’ “Hungarian Dances Nos. 5 and 6.:

Orchestra members are from the city of Harrisonburg, Rockingham, Augusta, Shenandoah and Page counties and from Franklin, W.Va.

Local Student Featured

Molly Schick, Youth Symphony soloist

Molly Schick, a senior at Harrisonburg High School, will be featured in the “Bassoon Concerto” by von Weber. She was chosen to perform by audition.

Ms. Schick is in her fourth year in the orchestra. She has been a member of the HHS symphonic and marching band for four years and is woodwind field commander in the marching band. She is also president of the Tri-M music honor society at HHS, an officer of the HHS InterAct Club and a tutor for Project Rescue, a tutoring program at the school.

Schick is a student of Dr. Sue Barber, bassoon professor at James Madison University. She has been a member of the HHS Jazz Ensemble, the EMU Wind Ensemble and the Emmanuel Episcopal Church Parish Choir and has played in numerous honors ensembles.

She is the daughter of Kurt and Lisa Schick of Harrisonburg.

A suggested $5 donation at the door will benefit the Preparatory Music and Shenandoah Valley Children’ Choirs’ scholarship funds.

The 30-member ensemble, conducted by Maria Lorcas, will perform excerpts from Handel’s “Music for the Royal Fireworks” and Brahms’ “Hungarian Dances.” In addition, orchestra members will play short solos to demonstrate their instruments.

Orchestra members are from the city of Harrisonburg, Rockingham, Augusta, Shenandoah and Page counties and from Franklin, W.Va.

The program is designed for families with children of all ages. Persons are invited to come in costume and expect a variety of treats.

Admission to the concert is free.

The Junior Strings ensemble will perform a variety of music from around the world, including excerpts from Handel