SPASH orchestra concert to feature seniors, Very Young Composers

By Rob Whitmire

The Stevens Point Area Senior High Orchestra will be presenting their Spring Orchestra Concert on Thursday, May 10th at 7:30 p.m. in the SPASH Auditorium.

The orchestra, directed by Cynthia Kiepert, will open the concert with senior violinist Roshini Traynor, and her brother, sophomore Dinesh Traynor, performing the Vivaldi Double Concerto for Violin & Cello.

Senior violinist Hope Mahon, will be featured performing “Polish Dance” by Edmund Severn, a lively dance with sweeping melodies.

The string orchestra will play highlights from “Moana” and a jazzy rondo that conjures up images of the Deep South in “Swamp Thang” composed by Richard Meyer.

Following the string orchestra will be the premiere performances of the Very Young Composers of Central Wisconsin compositions for the SPASH Symphony Orchestra.

This year the two VYC composers are Nathan Zuge, a 4th grade student from Bannach Elementary School and Bennett Story, a home-schooled 4th grader.

Nathan’s piece is called “Waves in the Moonlight,” a piece he described as “happy and sad at the same time.”

Bennett composed a piece he described as “dark, sad and scary music,” which is called “March of the Sith.”

“Both pieces are wonderfully creative, and what an opportunity for our community to have the Very Young Composers of Central Wisconsin in our community for the children of Central Wisconsin.” Kiepert said.

The concert finale section will feature the SPASH Symphony Orchestra playing Gould’s “American Salute”, which is based on “ When Johnny Comes Marching Home” and Gustav Holst’s “The Planets: Jupiter the Bringer of Jollity.”