Festival at Sandpoint's Youth Orchestra to perform concert
The Youth Orchestra is the most long-standing educational program offered by The Festival at Sandpoint.
The Festival at Sandpoint’s Youth Orchestra will perform their Winter Concert at 6 p.m. Dec. 12 at the Heartwood Center, 615 Oak Street.
Classes for the Youth Orchestra began in September, and the Winter Concert will be the orchestra's first performance.
The Youth Orchestra is the most long-standing educational program offered by The Festival at Sandpoint.
In 1998, the Festival Youth Orchestra program was created to help students develop the necessary skills and knowledge to master their orchestral string instruments. Over two decades later, the Festival at Sandpoint continues to offer free string classes for students of any age.
Currently, the program is composed of two groups, Beginning Orchestra and Continuing Orchestra. Both groups are led by the Festival’s Youth Orchestra Conductor, Karen Dignan.
The Beginning Orchestra Class is designed for students who are still getting started but have a basic knowledge of their instrument and reading music.
“The Beginning Orchestra members are almost all new to ensemble playing, and this is their first experience in an orchestra,” Dignan said.
The Continuing Orchestra Class is for students looking to hone their skills and expertise and have some prior experience playing in a group setting.
Students in the Beginning Orchestra Class typically move to the Continuing Orchestra Class after one year, which results in a tight-knit group both socially and musically.
“These students have been playing together for three years and are maturing in their musical awareness and capabilities,” Dignan said.
Both groups are open to any orchestral string players, including the violin, viola, cello, bass, and more. Classes are free for all ages and held weekly on Monday evenings.
If you know of a student looking to broaden their skills and knowledge in orchestral string instruments, this may be the class for them.
To learn more, visit www.festivalatsandpoint.com/education or reach out to our office by calling (208) 265-4554 or sending an email to info@festivalatsandpoint.com.