The 38-member Shenandoah Valley Youth Symphony Orchestra, part of the preparatory music program at Eastern Mennonite University (EMU), will present its fall concert on Sunday, Nov. 18, at 7 p.m. in EMU’s Lehman Auditorium.
The symphony will perform van Suppe’s “Poet and Peasant Overture,” Brahms’ “Hungarian Dances No. 5 and 6,” John Williams’ “Star Wars,” and Haydn’s “Toy Symphony.”
Younger members of the preparatory program will play a variety of whistles and noisemakers during the Haydn Symphony.
The orchestra, conducted by Maria Lorcas, a violin teacher with the preparatory music program, is an auditioned ensemble of high school players from Page, Shenandoah, Rockingham and Augusta counties. In addition to EMU and James Madison University students, several community members will participate in the evening’s festivities.
A $5 donation is requested that will benefit scholarship students in the preparatory music program.
About the soloist
Randy Wiedemann, violin, will perform “Concerto for Violin in E minor” by Mendelssohn. Randy, son of Dr. Werner and Charlene Wiedemann of Luray, Va., has been studying the violin for eight years, first with his sister and then with several preparatory music teachers, including his current teacher Maria Lorcas.
A senior at the Shenandoah Valley Academy (SVA) in New Market, Va., Randy is principal violist with the SVA Orchestra, sings in the honors choir and is a member of the National Honor Society. He is in his fifth year with the youth symphony and has been principal violist for four years.
Randy also plays the viola and is currently studying with Kathleen Overfield-Zook. He also enjoys sports and is a pitcher for the SVA baseball team.
Randy plans to attend college next fall and double major in history and music with viola as his principal instrument.
History of Shenandoah Valley Youth Orchestra
The orchestra began in 1990 as a strong ensemble and in part through a grant from the Virginia Commission of the Arts. 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, Musikgarten 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.