Suzuki violin students join in performing “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” at an earlier concert in EMU’s Lehman Auditorium.Photo by Jim Bishop
More than 100 young people will take part in a Suzuki violin concert 4 p.m. Sunday, May 13, in Lehman Auditorium at Eastern Mennonite University.
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 Preparatory Music Program, 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 www.emu.edu/music/prepprog.