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What delightful music I enjoyed at the recent Festival at Sandpoint Youth Orchestra’s free spring concert. Ten years ago Karen Dignan brought to the Festival board, her concept of creating a youth orchestra. The Festival jumped on the idea and has sponsored a free orchestra for our area youth ever since.

The 30-member orchestra filled the sanctuary at the First Presbyterian Church with beautiful music. Quality was high.

Ms. Dignan, knows the value of putting children in close contact with musical excellence, so she brought string quartet “Inland Northwest Chamber Collective” to perform there, too. What amazing musicians. Mika Hood, Sandpoint musical instructor at Sandpoint’s Bella Note studios, principal cellist of Coeur d’ Alene Symphony; Anita Perkins, violist in Spokane Symphony; Liz Lund, first violinist in the Spokane Symphony; and Elisabeth Hamilton, principal first violinist of the Coeur d’Alene Symphony. The children had front row seats for this performance.

Our community can truly be proud of the the Festival at Sandpoint’s Youth Orchestra Program. If you know someone who is learning a stringed instrument, please do let them know about this opportunity. It’s free. And if you are an adult learning a stringed instrument, the orchestra is open to you, too. For information, call the Festival at Sandpoint at 208-265-4554.

A huge “thank you” to all Festival at Sandpoint supporters for the musical opportunities you are providing for our growing community musicians.

BETH WEBER

Sandpoint