SOUND OF MUSIC IN THE AIR

Members of Honey Creek Youth Orchestra

Trumpets blare and ring through the hall as the orchestra thunders into a spectacular rendition of the final movement of Tchaikovsky's Fifth Symphony. Formally dressed musicians with years of experience fill the stage.

With a final crash of the cymbals, the piece is over and the hall echoes with wild applause.

Sound like the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra? Think again. Not one of these musicians is over the age of 18.

This is a typical scene from a youth orchestra in Indianapolis. Y-Press examined three youth orchestra organizations: The New World Orchestras, which includes two symphony orchestras and a small chamber orchestra, the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra and the Honey Creek Youth Chamber Orchestra.

The groups have the same commitment to high-quality orchestral music, but each carries it out differently.

"A youth orchestra is a group of young people getting together to make music at the highest possible level that we can," said Rachel Wingerter, 17, a cellist in the New World Youth Symphony Orchestra. "And we present it. We have concerts three or four times a year to anybody who will come."

The New World Youth Symphony Orchestra is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year; the symphony is made up of the most advanced students who typically play orchestral masterworks. The Philharmonic Orchestra is for students at the intermediate level, and the Debut Orchestra is for players of the violin, viola, cello and bass, ages 5 to 12. The chamber music program gives youth an opportunity to perform in small ensembles.

The orchestras rehearse and perform at the Hilbert Circle Theatre and other Indianapolis concert halls. Members of the Indianapolis Symphony and Indiana Chamber Orchestras teach, coach and work with New World throughout the year. In 2005, the New World Symphony Orchestra won its division in the American String Teachers Association National Orchestra Festival.

The Metropolitan Youth Orchestra combines the talents of both adults and children. Founded in 1995, its original vision was to use music to help urban youth become successful. Unlike New World, it isn't talent-driven; its purpose is to bring families closer together. The orchestra now has members from throughout the city. It provides music instruction at a reduced price to youth and their parents during the school year, although children can participate without their moms or dads. Members of MYO perform concerts and recitals during the year.

{mosimage}"If your child is playing an instrument and you want to play that instrument, too, the adults can also join and play, and they can work together on the music instead of just the kids playing the music," explained Victoria Thomas, 12, a Metropolitan violist. Her parents aren't members, but she enjoys having other parents involved with their children in the orchestra.

Honey Creek Youth Chamber Orchestra in Bargersville was founded in 2005, offering new opportunities for Southside residents. "I think it's an amazing opportunity for youth, like for kids and teenagers, to be a part of something that most students don't get to do, especially during the summer," said Afton Ault, 16, an oboist in Honey Creek. {mosimage}

{mosimage}Hannah Fox, 16, said Honey Creek also has ensembles that are an offshoot of the orchestra. She's in a quartet that sometimes plays at weddings.

Youth orchestras are increasing in popularity because they give students musical opportunities that they can't find at their schools. They're also an opportunity for home-schooled students to get involved in musical groups.

{mosimage}"The New World Orchestra gives people a chance to play difficult repertoire at a high level," said Trevor Leslie, 17, a cellist.

For example, that orchestra's challenging repertoire for this season includes selections from Dvorak's "New World" Symphony, Rimsky-Korsakov's "Scheherazade" and Tchaikovsky's "Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture."

The words "fun, devoted and inspiring" are repeated over and over during interviews with young musicians about their teachers, directors and conductors. This adult enthusiasm, coupled with the excitement of other youth, has revived young musicians' interest and devotion to their craft, they said.

{mosimage}"It's pretty much changed my perspective in music," said Hannah Daulton, a 13-year-old violinist with the Honey Creek Youth Orchestra. "When I auditioned, I didn't really care for the violin. I played the violin, but big deal. Now I play the violin a lot more than I used to, and it's actually fun."

Inevitably, members of an orchestra also learn a lot about other instruments and teamwork. "I think a lot more about what the other people's parts are in the music," Rachel said. "And I definitely am better at keeping a steady beat since you have to fit in with everybody else."

"Being in Honey Creek taught me how to play with other musicians and instruments," said Peter Jones, a 10-year-old cellist. {mosimage}

Rachel said the orchestra has challenged her in ways she never would have imagined.

"I've been pushed to a broader range of colors and textures because of the fact that you're trying to get an entire orchestra to convey the same emotion or thought, and by playing in an orchestra you get pushed to do things that maybe you wouldn't have thought of doing on your own," she said.

Music also has helped these young musicians set goals in other areas of their lives. Victoria explained: "I know that it has an impact on how I act with my friends 'cause I encourage them more now to do better in school and activities, too."

Some of the orchestral members plan to make music a full-time career; others don't. But most see their orchestra experience as life-changing.

"There's something about music that can say things when words fail you," said Rachel, noting that music can express emotions and is the bridge that helps people relate to one another.

"It's something that I would like to continue to share with people for the rest of my life," she said, "whether it is performing in an orchestra or performing solo or teaching music."

Note: Y-Press editor Sophia Yoo is a cellist with New World Youth Symphony Orchestra. Y-Press reporter Afton Waddell is a violinist with Honey Creek Youth Chamber Orchestra.

REPORTERS: Justin Byers, 13; Jeff Hou, 12; Afton Waddell, 13; Alexander Waddell, 11.

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New World Youth Orchestras Inc.

Year founded: 1982.

Address: Symphony Centre, 32 E. Washington St., Suite 950.

Phone: (317) 229-2365.

Web site: www.nwyso.org.

Next performance: 3 p.m. Nov. 12, Hilbert Circle Theatre.

Membership: $200-$400 annually. Financial aid available.

Next audition: Summer 2007.

The Metropolitan Youth Orchestra (MYO) of the Philharmonic Orchestra of Indianapolis

Year founded: 1995.

Address: Symphony Centre, 32 E. Washington St., Suite 900.

Phone: (317) 229-2367.

Web site: www.philharmonic indy.org/main.php?page=metropolitan YouthOrchestra.

Next performance: Dec. 16, Indiana History Center.

Membership: $90 per semester per child. Financial aid available.

Next time to join: Fall 2007.

Honey Creek Youth Chamber Orchestra

Year founded: 2005.

Address: Risen Lord Lutheran Church, 3758 W. Whiteland Road, Bargersville.

Phone: (317) 418-5757 (Conductor Shawn Plonski-Pinkus).

E-mail address: hcyco@sbcglobal .net.

Web site: www.honeycreekorch .com.

Next performance: July 4, 2007, Greenwood.

Membership: $100 for Summer 2007. Financial aid available.

Next audition: Noon to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays in March; 1 to 5 p.m. April 7-8.

Copyright 2006 Y-Press