As the conductor raises his arms, Sophomores Parker Salrin, Margaret Walker and Netri Krishnan, along with Freshman Addie Walterman, prepare to play their instruments for the concert. Together, these four students are part of the Indianapolis Youth Orchestra (IYO). The orchestras rehearse at Butler University from 1-4 each Sunday to prepare for upcoming concerts.
“We perform three concerts a year,” Salrin said. “The first one is in November, the second one is in February and the third one is in May.”
These concerts are held at various venues throughout Indiana, including The Palladium in Carmel and Hilbert Circle Theater in Indianapolis. This summer, Salrin and Walterman were also given the opportunity to travel to New York and perform at Carnegie Hall.
“Playing at Carnegie Hall was amazing,” Walterman said. “I got to be on one of the biggest stages in the country and perform music that every member had put so much work and effort into.”
While the girls admit that playing in these venues is entertaining, they say the main reason they joined IYO was to gain more knowledge about their instruments. Playing in the orchestra allows them to gain the full experience of playing with a symphony while improving their skills.
“I joined the Indianapolis Youth Orchestra because I wanted to challenge myself, since when I joined, I had been playing for about three or four years,” Krishnan said. “I learned about it from my orchestra teacher at the time, Eric Baker.”
Each student plays a different instrument, with Salrin playing percussion, Walker playing clarinet, Krishnan playing violin and Walterman playing trumpet.
“I play clarinet because it is unique from all of the other instruments in the orchestra, especially in the woodwinds,” Walker said.
Krishnan has been a member of the IYO since she was in 7th grade. Salrin and Walterman joined as 8th graders. Walker was the last to join, her first season in the orchestra beginning this school year. All three said their favorite parts of the program are the experiences they gain.
“I enjoy playing pieces that are also performed by professional symphonies and gaining experience with a full symphony orchestra,” Salrin said.
Krishnan said, “I like to meet all of the different types of students in the orchestra because they challenge me, since they are from all over the state. I also like to meet all of the different kinds of conductors.”
Aside from being in IYO, each student takes a music class at school as well. Salrin is in the Wind Ensemble, and she is also in the Symphonic orchestra as the fourth chair in the cello section. Krishnan is also in the Symphonic orchestra as the fifth chair. Walker and Walterman are both in the Wind Ensemble, as the first chair and second chair. They said they like that they get to try new things in IYO that normal classes don’t offer.
“Being in IYO pushed me to play harder music and introduced me to a lot of new musical things that I would have never experienced in class,” Walterman said.
