Sangamon Valley Youth Symphony and Pleasant Plains Schools Create Starter Strings Program

On February 26, 2004, the Starter Strings program began with 32 students in attendance in the town of Pleasant Plains. The program was created with a combined effort of students, faculty, administration, parents, and the SVYS Music Director, Richard A. Haglund. The young students began with stringed instruments that were in storage at Pleasant Plains along with others owned by SVYS and privately purchased or rented by the parents. The first rehearsal began at 7:15 am, and sessions will continue at that time each Tuesday and Thursday for the remainder of the semester at Farmingdale Elementary School.

The students' efforts will culminate when the Starter Strings group performs at the SVYS Spring Concert on May 15 at 1:30 PM in the Center for the Arts in Springfield.

The Pleasant Plains parents group "Save the Strings" sought to replace the former elementary school string program, which had been discontinued due to budget cuts. They contacted the Sangamon Valley Youth Symphony, and the Starter Strings program was created to resume string instruction in the community. Gregg and Patti Good worked with both the Pleasant Plains parents and SVYS to initiate the program. Others who have helped include the faculty, staff, and Superintendent Maureen Talbert of Pleasant Plains Schools, and Mrs. Bruns, General Music Teacher. Assisting Maestro Haglund with the instruction will be string players Anna Wang (violin and piano music major at Millikin University), and Abby Eddy (Illinois Symphony Orchestra Marketing Director and cello performer and teacher).

Student fees and support from Studio 8 (a district arts program) will pay for the lessons and rehearsals.

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