Young & gifted: Winning soloists perform with pros

Published 5:00 am Saturday, March 10, 2007

The prize was irresistible to young musicians: Give an audition for the judges representing the Saratoga Chamber Players and win a chance to perform with the island orchestra.

The competition was open to all Island County students under the age of 19; five young women between the ages of 10 and 16 won. They will be appearing in the First Annual Young Artists Solo Competition Concert at Whidbey Island Center for the Arts at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 17.

Gloria Ferry-Brennan, violin, Zoe Yi Yin Hensler, viola, Grace Itaya, piano, Rachel Means, violin and Mira Yamamoto, violin, are the exceptional musicians who were chosen. Not only did they have to show their musical ability in the audition but now they will be expected to perform as professional musicians with a professional orchestra.

The concert will feature seven pieces by composers Vivaldi, Kreisler, Seitz, Hayden and Tchaikovsky.

Producer and violist Kat Fritz said this was part of the reason she wanted to hold such a competition.

“This is a unique opportunity for these young musicians. They can have the experience of having to learn how to perform on a stage with a professional orchestra; how to sit, stand, bow, behave on stage with an orchestra,” she said. “It’s an important experience.”

Fritz also said the competition is a good way to bring students from the various disciplines together.

“This island has great community support for these kids. They all have their separate events for violin, piano, viola, etc. But this is the first time the teachers and these students are coming together to play as an orchestra,” she said. “It’s a good opportunity that every musician should have and I’d like to keep it going.”

Legh Burns is the the conductor of the young artists concert. He is enthusiastic about keeping the dream of music alive in these young musicians lives.

“These young people are very gifted. I think the audience will be astounded by their musicianship,” he said.

“And my hope is that this experience will encourage these students to encourage their own children in music; to keep the love of music uppermost in their minds; that’s what I’m here for,” Burns added.

In addition to the Saratoga Chamber Orchestra, the young artists will also be accompanied by members of the South Whidbey High School Ensemble on woodwinds, brass and tympani and by Kathryn Fox playing harpsichord.

The community is really backing the program, said Fritz. Even the poster was done by a design team from the high school and the concert is being sponsored by the Island Arts Council.

“With so much support surrounding them the students will come out of this experience with a positive attitude which will help them to not be intimidated by performing in the future,” Fritz said.

Fritz envisions many rewards coming out of this event, such as a possible string orchestra and a wind ensemble for young musicians. The possibilities are endless and the positivity she feels is due in part, she said, to the great support and enthusiasm of the South End community.

“I’ve been a musician for a long time and have played with many bands. The Saratoga Chamber Players has the best attitude of any group I’ve ever played with,” she said.

The Saratoga Chamber Players was formed in 1995 by Michael Nutt, a retired Los Angeles Philharmonic violinist who continues to play violin with the Saratoga Chamber Players and others. The orchestra gave their first public performance in November of that year at a fundraising event for “Save the Woods” on Saratoga.

When word spread of the enthusiastic audience response, the ensemble was asked to perform at the gala opening of the Whidbey Island Center for the Arts in May 1996. Since then the Saratoga Chamber Players has given numerous concerts, featuring local professional and amateur musicians of all ages, including many talented high school students.

It seems the success of the Saratoga Chamber Players has cartwheeled into more than entertainment. The community of musicians on the island is plentiful and these artists want to give back.

“Those of us who are adult musicians who have had the benefits of good teaching owe it to the younger generations to foster that love of good music and performance,” Burns said.

For tickets call 221-8268 or visit www.WICAonline.com.

Patricia Duff can be reached at 221-5300 or pduff@southwhidbeyrecord.com.