Hollyn Slykhuis (left) and Laura Ruple, both seniors are Harrisonburg High School, are featured soloists with the 50-member Shenandoah Valley Youth Symphony at their spring concert Sunday, March 20, at 4 p.m. in Eastern Mennonite University’s Lehman Auditorium. (Courtesy photos)

Harrisonburg High seniors to solo in Shenandoah Valley Youth Symphony spring concert

Hollyn Slykhuis and Laura Ruple, both seniors at Harrisonburg High School, are the featured soloists at the Shenandoah Valley Youth Symphony’s spring concert. Ruple, who plays the oboe, and Slykhuis, on trumpet, were chosen by audition last spring.

The concert is Sunday, March 20, at 4 p.m. in Eastern Mennonite University’s Lehman Auditorium. A $7 donation is requested to benefit the Youth Symphony program.

The Junior Strings ensemble, which includes 19 members from Rockingham and Augusta counties, will begin with works by Bach, Haydn and John Williams. This intermediate-level group is conducted by Sharon Miller and is often the first orchestra that developing students have the opportunity to play in.

The 50-member Youth Symphony, part of EMU’s Preparatory Music program, will perform the following works: Von Suppe’s Light Calvary Overture, Dwight Gustafson’s Camp Meeting, Beethoven’s Finale from Symphony No. 9, and Shonberg’s Selections from Les Miserables.

Soloists

Laura Ruple has been a member of the Youth Symphony for six years. She currently studies oboe with Rhonda Stees and plans to major in oboe performance at a university next year.

At Harrisonburg High School (HHS), she is a member of the Fine Arts Academy, the A Capella ensemble, and marching and symphonic bands. She participated in several musical productions and was chosen by audition for Senior Regional Orchestra (first chair), for VMEA Honors Choir (first chair), for Honors Choir, and for All-Virginia Band and Orchestra (fifth chair). She is also a member of the Youth Orchestra of Central Virginia and is a co-lead singer in a local band, Begging to Differ. She is the daughter of Eric and Dawn Ruple.

Hollyn Slykhuis is the president of the HHS Chapter of the Tri-M Music Honor Society and is a member of the National Honor Society. She also participates in the HHS band and choral programs. A member of the Youth Symphony for two years, Hollyn is also the principal trumpet player for the Youth Orchestra of Central Virginia, a solo cornet player in the Massanutten Youth Brass Band, and is a member of the student-led band, This Side Up.

She was invited to march in the 2015 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and appeared on the Today Show. A student of Dr. Christine Carrillo, Hollyn is a three-time All-Virginia Band member. She plans to pursue a double major in music education and trumpet performance in college. She is the daughter of David and Julie Slykhuis.

The symphony, conducted by Maria Lorcas, is an auditioned ensemble of high school players from Page, Shenandoah, Rockingham and Augusta counties. It is the final concert of the group’s 26th season.

The audience is invited to a reception afterwards.