DATE: Saturday, May 3, 1997                 TAG: 9705030519

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B3   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY ERIKA REIF, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: NEWPORT NEWS                      LENGTH:   67 lines

FALLETTA CULTIVATES YOUNG LISTENERS

More than half the students in Roseann DeBrango's class want to be orchestra conductors when they grow up. No kidding.

The fourth-graders' hands shot up when their teacher asked that question at Kiln Creek Elementary School Friday. A month ago, many of them didn't know that conducting was an option. But since Virginia Symphony conductor JoAnn Falletta responded to three of the students' letters, things have changed.

Falletta invited the teacher, three students and their families to attend a nearly sold-out symphony concert. Falletta, who in April conducted the symphony's Carnegie Hall debut in New York City, is leading orchestra performances at the Virginia Waterfront International Arts Festival.

DeBrango is still reeling from the invitation. She didn't know in March that her class project of trying to contact famous women for Women in History Month would lead to this.

Neither did the three students who chose to write to Falletta from a list the class compiled on the blackboard.

Other students sent letters to first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, who answered with a form letter and information book; winning Olympic softball team member Dot Richardson, who replied with a letter and card; and York County musicians Kim and Lana, who said they may perform at the school next year. Some potential ``role models'' did not reply at all.

But Falletta, ``she called me personally at my home early this week,'' said DeBrango, an elementary school teacher in Newport News and Portsmouth for 18 years. ``I'd never had any celebrity do that. . . ''

In addition to supplying free tickets, Falletta will give a small tour of the backstage rooms and take them onstage to view Chrysler Hall from a performer's perspective.

Falletta is interested in bringing classical music to children because their minds are more open, she said. In addition, Falletta was charmed by drawings of what she presumed to be herself, conducting.

One was by Delon Banks, 9, who has seen pictures of orchestras and heard them play, but not live. At home, he listens to Coolio and other rap music and wants to play professional basketball some day.

But he planned to wear a black tuxedo to the concert, he said. And he expected to see - well, words couldn't capture it - so as explanation he hummed a rhythmic beat, raising his arms and crossing them like a conductor.

Marcie Belleau, 9, was also invited to attend. Her favorite songs are on the latest Spice Girls and No Doubt recordings. The only classical music she hears is through the walls of her 15-year-old sister's bedroom - plus the B, A and G notes she pipes on the recorder in school.

Marcie doesn't see anything unusual about a woman on the conductor's stand.

``If I can't be a veterinarian, I'd be a conductor,'' she said. ``A girl can do as much as a guy can.''

The students recently had a unit in school covering classical composers.

Meredith Hughes, 11, remembers Beethoven but otherwise, ``the names are hard.''

She was also invited to the concert Friday evening, and was excited about meeting Falletta.

At home, in preparation, ``My mom said I would have to behave, which I would do anyway,'' Meredith said.

The group was given balcony seats, where Falletta said acoustics are best and there is a ``bird's-eye view'' of the approximately 200 people onstage, including the Virginia Symphony Chorus.

``Carmina Burana,'' was scheduled to carry the program, and Falletta described it as ``almost like a cult piece - a very, very powerful piece.

``It's the kind of concert they will remember,'' she said. ILLUSTRATION: Conductor JoAnn Falletta invited three students, their

families and a teacher to the Virginia Symphony.

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