Abilene Youth Strings makes debut Monday at the Paramount

Monday may be the NCAA men's basketball championship game but for some Abilene youths, it's a big night on a different kind of hardwood - the performance stage.

Not only is the Abilene Youth Orchestra in concert at the Paramount Theatre, an offshoot is making its debut.

The music begins at 7 p.m.; admission is $5 for adults and free for students.

Performing for the first time is Abilene Youth Strings, a group that focuses on instruments played with a bow - the violin, viola, cello and string bass. There more than 30 students ranging in age from 10 to 14.

There now are four youth programs under the Philharmonic umbrella - the full youth orchestra that numbers about 55, the new string group and Mission Strings, broken into two groups based on experience.

Dr. Steven Ward, who directs bands at ACU, is the music director of the full orchestra.

The recent formation of these groups is an effort by the Philharmonic to interest youths in classical music at an early age in an organized manner. That was identified as a need.

There was not a wealth of string players, in part due to some schools not having orchestra programs. Homeschooled students also would be lacking that opportunity, said Darcy Radcliffe, the former director of Abilene ISD's Revolution Strings and now with the Abilene Philharmonic.

"There wasn't a full orchestra offered for this age group that was continuous," she said of forming the big orchestra. Involved in the Abilene ISD for 21 years, she said there was opportunity in the large school district but nothing for other students.

"There was a lot of repertoire that wasn't being taught or learned in the age group in our area because there was not place for it to be taught and learned," she said.

Wind players, for example, got experience in band. Orchestra experience was limited.

"That was a need the youth orchestra was trying to fill," she said.

As youths are coached for sports in earlier grades, this was a way to better prepare musicians for high school. And, hopefully, keep them engaged through the years.

"I believe that if we want to make it grow, we have to start on the ground level," she said.

It takes a lot serious practice, she said.

"If I'm going to be good, I really have to put some time in it," she said the students learn. "You see those are more serious really invest themselves."

That's important to a youngster as they learn how to learn, she said.

And while the youth orchestra has taken off, it has lacked string players.

"COVID had a lot to do with that," Radcliffe said.

Students without experience found it daunting to join other players who were more skilled, she said. Those students, too, knew how to play in a setting in which different groups are playing separately, the idea being that all sections combine for what audiences hear.

And so, a program was launched focusing on strings. It bridges the gap from beginning students in the Mission program and the more accomplished orchestra players, said Radcliffe, who began Revolution Strings in 2002 to also expand music education in the public school district.

Revolution Strings emerged from the Cooper Fiddlers, led by her father, Mark Best.

Another plus is that these programs open classical music to a more diverse group and genders.

Musicians filled Williams Performing Arts Center on the Abilene Christian University campus Sunday for both rehearsal and performance.

Radcliffe said the strings group involves students in the Abilene and Wylie districts, Abilene Christian School, St. John's Episcopal School and youngsters who are homeschooled.

"A good representation," Radcliffe said.

Auditions were in January and the work began. This an after-hours effort and Radcliffe there have been nine solid practices due to a number of three-day weekends and spring break.

"But I have been really impressed and proud that these very young players have been to accomplish. Again, many of them haven't had a lot of experience playing in a group," Radcliffe said. "The dedication of these kids has been exciting to see.

"Every week, they've practiced and it's better than the week before."

The strings group will perform music from the "Harry Potter" movies by John Williams, "Gates of Kiev" by Moussorgsky and a traditional fiddle tune called "Blackberry Blossom."

The more skilled players will have solos, she said.

"It's going to be a lot fun."

This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Abilene Youth Strings makes debut Monday at the Paramount