Concerts expose 13,000 elementary students to classical music

While the Las Vegas Philharmonic played on stage at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, it became clear that classical music is not for everyone. In the audience of more than 1,600 students at the Jan. 11 performance, a few were slouched to the side with their eyes closed.

But, the music did catch the imagination of some students , who pretended to be conducting , waving their hands back and forth and mimicking guest conductor Taras Krysa of the Henderson Symphony Orchestra.

The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Ave., hosted the 14th annual Youth Concert Series, providing free symphony orchestra performances to more than 13,000 fourth- and fifth-graders from about 115 local schools in eight concerts Jan. 11, 14, 15 and 16. Past performances were at the Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. About 150,000 students have seen performances since the program's inception in 1999.

Five of the top student-musicians in the valley also performed with the Philharmonic: John Melton and Liam Mansfield of Las Vegas Academy, 315 S. Seventh St.; Emily Richardson of Miller Middle School, 2400 Cozy Hill Circle; Aida Badalian of Odyssey Charter Schools, 2251 S. Jones Blvd.; and Artem Alexanyan of College of Southern Nevada High School West, 6375 W. Charleston Blvd.

The Philharmonic played 45-minute concerts of popular, kid-friendly music, including one song featuring the student-musicians at the front of the stage.

Melton, a 17-year-old marimba player and Sunrise-area resident, called the experience "mind-blowing."

"It was incredible," he said, "especially being my age, a nonprofessional, playing with that caliber of an orchestra in that kind of a theater."

Melton said it was his biggest venue and audience to date . He said it was "intimidating" and "nerve-racking" at first but that it gave him confidence moving forward to perform at other large events. Melton also said this event is important to keep going because he has seen how it impacts students.

"It just shows how much people need music in their lives," he said. "It can do so much. It can alter how someone feels ---- excite them, sadden them, anger them. Young people should be exposed to more.

"I was brought along before a lot of the arts funding was cut (in public schools). As a musician, it disheartened me. It can do so much in someone's life."

Emily Richardson, a 12-year-old violinist, performed two years ago in the series at Ham Hall and said she was only a little nervous this time because she had never played in T he Smith Center before.

"The first thing I noticed was basically how big it was," she said. "But by the end I was really excited because it was really a well-built hall, and the sound really traveled well."

Badalian, a 16-year-old pianist and Summerlin resident, has been playing for eight years but said she never thought she would have that kind of opportunity.

"It was un ... believable," she said. "I felt so honored. I don't really know how to explain it. I feel really fulfilled. I want to do more of it. I want to keep performing for lots of people in big halls and bring them amazing music."

Badalian also praised the Youth Concert Series for exposing students to classical music early on. Badalian never attended the s eries when she was younger but said she could vividly remember one of the first times she played an instrument ---- a recorder ---- in second grade.

"I think it's great because classical music is so everlasting," she said. "Hundreds of years have passed, and still their music is so widely renowned and appreciated.

"Can you imagine something you created being celebrated hundreds of years after you die? I think that's incredible."

Contact View education reporter Jeff Mosier at jmosier@viewnews.com or 702-224-5524.