Young stars trumpet musical success

By John Loesing Acorn Staff Writer

STARS OF THE FUTURE-Members of the Conejo Valley Youth Orchestras take a bow following one of their recent performances. More than 200 of the young musicians will be on stage for another big show on next Sun., June 1 at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza. Call (805) 449-2787 for tickets.

You needn’t look far to see some of the top young musicians in the country; they’re right in our own backyard.

These aren’t budding pop stars or "American Idol" contestants; they’re the members of the Conejo Valley Youth Orchestras and they have a big performance coming up this Sun., June 1 at the Civic Arts Plaza in Thousand Oaks.

More than 200 students from ages 6 to 21 play will be on stage at the Fred Kavli Theater—including violin prodigy Carol Yan, a senior from Thousand Oaks High School.

Yan plays first violin with the main orchestra and this performance will be a swan song of sorts for her and a dozen other graduating high school students in the group.

This fall, Yan will attend Princeton University where she plans to study molecular biology and become a doctor. She’s been playing violin for eight years, including the last six with the orchestra, and said she hopes to continue her performing despite the demands of college.

She said performing with the youth orchestra has given her the memories of a lifetime.

"My favorite part about playing violin is the orchestra because you get a sense of teamwork and everyone works together," said Yan, the group’s concertmaster. "All the instruments unite to create a sound that they couldn’t do individually."

The Sunday show begins at 4 p.m. and the orchestra will play everything from classical greats to Hollywood sound track favorites.

"You just reach for the most excellent thing you can get out of them and at the same time provide a safe, fun and educational learning environment," said Bill Benson, a professional bassist and former music educator who joined the group in 1994. Benson became the Youth Orchestras’ artistic director in 1999.

For years, the young talent in the area was split between Benson’s Conejo Valley group and Greg Fried’s New West Symphony Youth Orchestra.

When Fried, a longtime music instructor at Lindero Canyon Middle School in Agoura Hills, moved to the Midwest last year, the New West youth group dissolved and many of the kids transferred to Benson’s tutelage.

"It’s the only game in town right now," said Marilynn Roth, an Agoura Hills resident whose 12-year-old daughter, Rachel, is an up-and-coming trombonist with the Conejo Valley group.

Rachel Roth plays trombone in the Conejo Valley Youth Orchestras Preparatory Orchestra, a learning level ensemble, and violin in the Chamber Orchestra, another prep group.

"She loves it because of the fact that she gets to play both instruments," said her mother. "She’s pretty advanced for her age on trombone. It’s her first instrument."

Roth, like many of the parents, sees the Youth Orchestras as a perfect way to advance her daughter’s skills.

Marilynn Roth is an accomplished pianist and Rachel’s stepfather, Harvey Cohen, is an Emmy Award-winning composer.

"A lot of the kids study privately and what this does is enhance that private study so they now have some ensemble experience," Benson said.

"It’s the next step for the student who wants more involvement outside school. Here is an opportunity to perform at a higher level," he said.

The group’s motto is "Leading and inspiring youth through music."

The Youth Orchestras rehearse once a week at either Cal Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks or Westminster Presbyterian Church in Westlake Village.

Next year at this time, Yan will be paying as much attention to her microscope as to her violin. The 4.0 student said she plans to specialize in oncology. Her father was stricken by lymphoma.

Not only does Yan play in the orchestra, but she also volunteers with the American Cancer Society.

This Sunday’s show will be the final performance of the season for these talented young musicians and the public is invited.

For ticket information call the Civic Arts Plaza at (805) 449-2787, and for more information about the Conejo Valley Youth Orchestras, call (805) 523-8045.