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Youth Orchestra Groups to Give Concert

The Shenandoah Valley Youth Orchestra and the Junior Strings ensemble will perform 7 p.m. Sunday, Mar. 26 at in Lehman Auditorium at Eastern Mennonite University.

The Junior Strings ensemble will perform a variety of music from around the world, including excerpts from Handel’s "Music for the Royal Fireworks," Rimsky-Korsakov’s "Slava" and William Harbinson’s "Hickory Variations." The group, under the direction of Sharon M. Miller, has 17 members from Rockingham, Augusta and Page counties as well as from West Virginia. They

The Shenandoah Valley Youth Orchestra, an auditioned group conducted by Maria Lorca, will perform the "Egmont Overture" by Beethoven and the "Capriccio Espagnol" by Rimsky-Korsakov.

The youth orchestra has more than 30 members, chosen by audition, from Rockingham, Augusta and Shenandoah counties.

Two area students will be featured soloists with the orchestra.

Adriana Hammond

Adriana Hammond, the daughter of Scott and Cheree Hammond, will perform an oboe concerto by Marcello. She is a senior at Harrisonburg High School and has been playing the oboe for six years. A student of Rhonda Stees, Adriana has performed with the Youth Orchestra for three years and with the Harrisonburg High School Symphonic and Marching Bands for four years. She also enjoys singing with the Harrisonburg High School Honors Choir.

Adriana has been chosen by audition for Regional Orchestra and All-Virginia Band. Upon graduation she plans to study instrumental performance with an eye to future study and performances abroad.

Julia Long

Julia Long, the daughter of Donald and Mona Long, will perform the Violin Concerto by Mendelssohn. A senior at Turner Ashby High School, she has been playing the violin for ten years. Julia sings with the T.A. Singers and the church choir at First Presyterian Church. She has participated in five musicals including "Fiddler on the Roof" in February. Julia has played the violin with the Youth Orchestra for six years, with the Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival Orchestra for four years, the EMU Orchestra for three years and with the Eastern Music Festival (Greensboro, NC) for two summers.

A violin student of Dr. Joan Griffing of EMU, Julia was recently named assistant concertmaster of the All-Virginia Orchestra. She plans to study violin performance after graduation.

The Shenandoah Valley Youth Symphony Orchestra program 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 the administrative director for the program that enrolls over 325 students from five Virginia counties and West Virginia.

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

Information about EMU's Preparatory Music Program is available at www.emu.edu/music/prepprog or by calling 540-432-4277.

— article by: Jim Bishop; posted March 6, 2006