THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 19, 1995 TAG: 9502170190
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MARLENE FORD, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 53 lines
All the young members of the Bay Youth Orchestras are outstanding. So to be selected as soloists from that ensemble must make them - well, more outstanding.
At 7:30 p.m. Wednesday six area high school musicians will individually take center stage at the Pavilion Theater to show these talents and abilities with the 100-piece Bay Youth Symphony.
The special soloists and their works are Peter Kim, Kempsville High School, ``Oboe Concerto'' in C Major, Haydn; Jeff Phelps, First Colonial High School/Governor's Magnet School for the Arts, ``Cello Concerto'' in C Major, Haydn; and Trevor O'Riordan, Tabb High School, ``Clarinet Concerto'' in A Major, Mozart.
Also, Andrew Sobel, Western Branch High School, ``Piano Concerto No. 1'' in G Major, Mendelssohn; Melissa Sunderland, First Colonial High School, ``Romance'' for Violin in G Major, Beethoven; and Jesse Kapsha, First Colonial High School, ``Piano Concerto'' in A Minor, Grieg.
Music director Gregory Barnes agreed that picking the best of the best was no easy job. ``I knew it would be so difficult that I simply didn't participate in the selection,'' he said with a laugh. ``There were 25 competitors at the contest in December. It took six hours in all and six were finally chosen - probably two more than we really should have.
``But for our students, this is a major endeavor. They plan and prepare a good year in advance. For the seniors this is just prior to their college auditions,'' he said.
All the winners study their instruments privately, most also perform with their school, church or community orchestras and are top seated in district band and orchestra competitions. According to Barnes, all six are planning to major in music in college.
At the concerto tryouts the players, who are members of the several various ensembles that comprise the Youth Orchestras, performed approved orchestral works for their instruments. While Barnes waved off the honor of selection, the committee included other instructors and conductors with the orchestra and concert master of the Virginia Symphony, Vahn Armstrong. ILLUSTRATION: WHEN & WHERE
``Concerto,'' a concert by the Bay Youth Orchestras at the
Pavilion Theater, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. Guest conducted by Walter
Noona and featuring six of the best area high school students in
solo orchestral works. Tickets are $4 at the Pavilion box office.
Call 428-8000.
by CNB