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Students to 'String Along' in EMU Concert

Preparatory Music instructor Anthony VanPelt guides his young charges through a practice session.
Photo by Jim Bishop

Sixty violin students, ages 4 to 18, will make beautiful music together 4 p.m. Sunday, May 15, in Lehman Auditorium at Eastern Mennonite University.

These students study the Suzuki violin approach through EMU’s Preparatory Music Program with teachers Kara Glick, Maria Lorcas, Sharon Miller, Erika Sawin, Jessica Trainum and Anthony VanPelt.

The program will open with several students performing advanced repertoire. As the concert progresses, the pieces become less advanced and more students are added, culminating with all 60 students playing "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star."

The Shenandoah Valley Preparatory Music Program has been a part of EMU’s music department since 1988. Under the direction of Administrative Director Sharon M.D. Miller, musical instruction is given to 285 students in the following areas:

* Instrumental music (violin, viola, cello, piano, flute, clarinet, trumpet, guitar, Suzuki violin);

* Musikgarten (ages 18 months to 6 years); and

*The Shenandoah Valley Youth Symphony Orchestra/Junior Strings (grades 3-12).

The Preparatory Program also has an Outreach Project, an effort to provide string instrument instruction to students who wouldn't otherwise have the opportunity. Currently, 28 students receive violin instruction at Stone Spring and Waterman Elementary Schools and at EMU.

The Outreach Project is also supported by the Virginia Commission of the Arts, The Arts Council of the Valley, the Music Gallery and by private donations of money and instruments. Outreach students perform at their schools, at various community locations and in EMU events, including the Suzuki violin concert on May 15.

The Preparatory Music Program seeks to provide quality music education to the residents of the greater central Shenandoah Valley area through instructional and performance opportunities. Call (540) 432-4277 for more information on any program.

Admission to the concert is free.

— article by: Jim Bishop; posted May 9, 2005