BY Roberta Clayton
Back in the days when Holly Springs was devoid of schools, library, and other basic businesses, I heard then Mayor Gerald Holleman express his dream of someday having the Raleigh Symphony perform in Holly Springs. I don’t believe that has happened yet, but our own local musical scene is now personal, rich, and meaningful.
On Sunday, December 18, the Holly Strings Youth Orchestra will present their Winter Wonderland concert at the Cultural Center. Since September 11, the young people have been meeting and working on the numbers they will present to their peers, families, neighbors, and future string players. You can join them for some festive music without a long drive or parking woes, and you can purchase your tickets online, at the box office, or over the phone at 567-4000.
Who are these talented young people? They are our own local students, guided by the organization’s founder, president, conductor and instructor, Erin Paré. She meets with them on Sunday afternoons in groups divided by age and ability. She founded the organization in 2017 as a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization to benefit our young people and give them a vision of what they can become. Currently there are four levels. The Vibratos are an ensemble of middle school and high school students. The Crescendos are elementary school students, and the Treble Clefs I and II are the beginners on violin. Each student must have an instrument appropriate to their size in order to participate, but there are some instruments available on loan. These have been donated in good condition and are available to participants on a first-come, first-served basis upon request. Between lessons, the students are asked to practice 15 minutes per day, at least five days per week, though the practice log is not collected.
The Holly Strings Youth Orchestra website explains: “The HSYO provides string instrument instruction to youth ages 20 years old and younger, as an individual and as part of an ensemble. Our vision is to make string music education and performance available to youth for whom string instrument instruction and ensemble performance opportunities are either unavailable or unaffordable.” The HSYO mission is “to cultivate the artistic development of students through high quality and affordable music education and performance. To create the opportunity for area youth to develop a lifelong love of music-making. To challenge every musician to pursue musical excellence.” These lofty goals are achieved “through instrument instruction workshops, performance ensembles based on skill level, and concerts and public performances. We will work with area music groups and artists to enhance the musical growth experience for HSYO participants.” For a taste of their talents, go to YouTube and watch their rendition of We Are the World.
Erin Paré learned to play the violin starting at eight years of age in public school in Fairfax County, Virginia. She stayed with it throughout elementary, middle and high school, and then through graduate school with the George Mason University Symphony Orchestra. After graduation she continued to play for weddings and church events. “Miss Erin,” as the students call her, taught private lessons to children and adults in Holly Springs for many years. Because the southern Wake public schools do not have string orchestras, and because there were so many young people wanting to learn, it was clear there was a need for a local youth string orchestra. She formed the organization in 2017 with a five-member board of directors. Since the beginning, they have partnered with the Holly Springs Cultural Center, launching their first program in the fall of 2018 with nine students. In just a few months they had 30 participants. As with so many things, Covid shut down the group for about a year, but, says Miss Erin, “We are back, with the strongest enrollment we’ve seen to date. I run the program as a volunteer. We are looking to expand, with more instructors and a professional conductor when we can.”
She and her husband own Play-It-Again Sports in Holly Springs. They will also soon be opening a Once Upon a Child franchise locally. Her background is in public policy. Outside of the HSYO, she serves in the General Assembly as the State Representative for District 37, which is southern Wake County. She is a member of the Joint Legislative Arts Caucus and has been an advocate for the arts and music arts programs in North Carolina Schools.
When the HSYO was getting started, they held a logo artwork contest for area youth to submit a design that would represent them, offering a prize of $100 to the winner. A group of ten adult community members chose the winning design from about 30 entries. The winner of the contest was Sabrina Sebelius, a high school student from Apex who is now in college studying graphic design. For concerts, the musicians wear their logo shirts with black skirts or pants and black shoes.
I went to the Cultural Arts Center on a Sunday afternoon to meet some of the participants. Sydney Darrah plays in the Vibratos ensemble. She is a 14-year-old freshman at Holly Springs High School and has been playing violin for five years, including one year of private lessons. Her family is actively supportive, with Mom playing the flute, her brother the guitar, and her uncle also working with music. Sydney’s favorite subjects in school are math and science, and her sport is tennis. Of the selections they are working on, her current favorite is Carol of the Bells. Last year’s favorite was Pirates of the Caribbean. In the Vibratos group there are 18 students, including a viola and four cellos. The longest serving student has been with Miss Erin for eight years.
After the Vibratos, the Crescendos ensemble arrived, consisting of two boys and six girls working together to present The Little Drummer Boy for the December 18 concert. Miss Erin is a very kind, upbeat, caring teacher. She uses the very best method, which is to praise what they are doing right. She often sings their parts or even her next instructions. The students are glued to their scores at this point but will be mastering the skill of watching both the music and the conductor as time passes. Her pleasant demeanor attracts their attention naturally. To foster unity, she keeps the tempo moderate at rehearsals and leads with both hands in wide, sweeping motions.
The next group to appear was the very beginning Treble Clefs who worked on basic open string patterns, up bow and down bow, and posture. Violet Zechmann is a ten-year-old 5th grader at Pine Springs Prep Academy in Holly Springs. She has had a year of piano lessons, which is good preparation for her current study of violin. Her face radiated the joy of holding that new violin she had come to love in just two weeks. With her was Azra Ozdemir, a nine-year-old 3rd grader at Holly Grove Elementary School. The teacher sang as they played, A-A-A-A, E-E-E-E. Her encouragement was continuous. “I liked how you tapped your bow. The bow stays on the strings.” She tapped her toe and counted as they played. “You read that really well. This is one of my favorites. Good job.” She showed them how to sit up straight, how to hold the violin up with the bow, and how to sit in rest position, with the violin upright on their leg and the bow across their lap. “Keep your wrist straight. We are not waitresses!” She even practiced having them receive a round of applause. I clapped in earnest, both for the students and for their teacher. They are working on Jingle Bells.
The final group of Treble Clefs worked on preparing to play Up on the Housetop. They have progressed beyond open strings, learning to position their fingers on the white tape strips that show them how to play additional notes. They also know that rests are just as vital as the notes, and must be counted. Darcy Walker, ten, is a 5th grader at Pine Springs Prep Academy. Having seen the popular crossover violinist and dancer Lindsey Stirling play on an electric violin, Darcy asked for her white, open instrument for a Christmas gift. She even named it George. Darcy plays basketball with the YMCA and attended a cheerleading camp with Middle Creek High School cheerleaders and coaches.
Proud dad Dustin Walker encourages his family’s musical interests. One son sings in a choir at Middle Creek High School; another plays drums in his school band. Dustin had private piano lessons for six years and then, at age 15, transitioned to guitar. He plays in a band called Idle Jacks, formed a year ago with five other members. His wife, Riley, an interior designer, is the “appreciator” who supports it all.
Perhaps you remember your own days of playing one or another stringed instrument. Perhaps you are that all-important “appreciator.” Perhaps you are a proud supporter of the Holly Strings Youth Orchestra. Give yourself the gift of a Christmas concert December 18 at the Holly Springs Cultural Arts Center. It will put you in a holiday mood.
