DATE: Sunday, March 2, 1997                 TAG: 9703020035

SECTION: FRONT                   PAGE: A1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY HOLLY WESTER, CORRESPONDENT 

DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH                    LENGTH:   74 lines

SYMPHONY PROS, AMATEURS MAKE A JOYFUL NOISE THE YEARLY JAM DRAWS DIVERSE MUSICIANS.

From the get-go, the concert seemed like some sort of prank, a surreal scene out of a musician's dream.

Instead of a flashy marquee, the show's advertising consisted of an easel with a photo of Ludwig van Beethoven and a handwritten sign: ``PLAY ALONG with the VIRGINIA SYMPHONY.''

Black tails and bow ties took a back seat as about 40 symphony members donned sweatshirts and tees advertising their Carnegie Hall debut in April.

And more than 100 local musicians joined them at Lynnhaven Mall to perform Beethoven in the Virginia Symphony's fourth annual Play-Along, a free classical jam session that invited anyone with an instrument to play with the pros.

``This is totally wild,'' said JoAnn Falletta, who as music director of the Virginia Symphony has conducted all of the orchestra's Play-Alongs. ``It's a lot of fun, and I'm always surprised with how wonderful it is.''

THE SETTING FOR THE SHOW was as informal as the performers' dress. Beige fold-out chairs paired with black stands to form a ``pit'' beneath three palm trees. A few stools in the dried-up fountain provided space for folks playing people-sized instruments, such as the string bass.

Shoppers stared from the upstairs food court. Elementary-age bystanders plopped down on the ivory tile. Moms and dads proudly snapped pictures.

``I wanted to have music take over the mall for a day,'' said Sally Berman, a symphony violinist and organizer of the Play-Along.

To make this year's the biggest and loudest, she contacted more than 200 schools.

``It's really been a very meaningful experience for students in the past,'' Berman said. ``They get a sneak preview of what it's like to be a professional musician. They learn what it's like from a fingers-on perspective.''

Besides being educational, Berman said the Play-Along allows the Symphony to share itself with the public: ``Even people who don't play instruments have a chance to experience what it actually feels like to play in a symphony orchestra.''

Participants and spectators alike tapped into that feeling during three separate performances of the first and final movements of Beethoven's Fifth. With sheet music provided by the symphony, musicians of all ages played every instrument imaginable, from the traditional violin and flute to the nontraditional kazoo, acoustic guitar and xylophone.

Although the pieces came off as strong and serious in the first few notes - the ``duh-duh-duh-DUH'' known by even the overture-illiterate - the vibe was about as informal as a frat party gig.

THE ENTHUSIASM WAS CONTAGIOUS among the crowd of music lovers.

``It was great,'' said participant Theopete Ayana, 11, a sixth-grade violinist from Landstown Middle School. ``But the notes were really hard.''

Added Dalimar Pla, 12, a seventh-grade violinist from Bayside Middle School: ``They go pretty fast. It's a good opportunity to learn sight-reading.''

Some symphony members also felt challenged. To make things fair, they were encouraged to take up instruments they don't normally play.

Violinist Amanda Gates gave the trumpet a shot. ``The second trumpet part only has two notes,'' she said. ``I figured I could handle it.''

But the horn wasn't her only reason for participating. ``It's such a good feeling to see that all these people want to be part of the symphony,'' she said. ``It's been a dream of mine to give what I love back to the community.''

And the community welcomed it with open arms.

``The spirit of this is incredible,'' said Meg Sandow, who came from Norfolk to listen. ``I'm looking forward to the next one.'' ILLUSTRATION: [Color photo]

IAN MARTIN/The Virginian-Pilot

Les Wasserman of Virginia Beach, with his homemade kazoo, joined the

Virginia Symphony's fourth annual Play-Along at Lynnhaven Mall on

Saturday. Behind him are symphony member James Herbison, center, and

Hickory High student David Crainer.

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