Elspeth Kuta, Museum Coordinator at the Virgin Valley Heritage Museum, left introduces Kendra Graff, Virgin Valley High School orchestra leader at a Saturday outdoor concert March 5. Photo by Barbara Ellestad.

Elspeth Kuta, Museum Coordinator at the Virgin Valley Heritage Museum, left introduces Kendra Graff, Virgin Valley High School orchestra leader at a Saturday outdoor concert March 5. Photo by Barbara Ellestad.

In preparation for an upcoming appearance in the Clark County Orchestra festival, the Virgin Valley High School orchestra entertained local residents on a beautiful Saturday afternoon, March 5.

Playing in the amphitheater wedged between the Mesquite Fine Arts Gallery and the Mesquite Museum, 19 kids out of 30 who will attend the festival played several pieces that will be part of their repertoire at the festival competition coming later in the month. The afternoon was arranged by Elspeth Kuta, Museum Coordinator at the Virgin Valley Heritage Museum.

“The kids get nervous playing in front of audiences,” said Kendra Graff, orchestra leader. “So we thought this would be a good way to help them practice before they appear before judges.”

There wasn’t much judging as the audience enjoyed everything from soft, melodic rhythms to bold and lively pieces played on stringed instruments ranging from the very small to the very large.

Kendra Graff, Virgin Valley High School orchestra leader leads the musicians in an outdoor concert as practice for an upcoming Clark County festival competition. Photo by Barbara Ellestad.

Kendra Graff, Virgin Valley High School orchestra leader leads the musicians in an outdoor concert as practice for an upcoming Clark County festival competition. Photo by Barbara Ellestad.

“It’s nice to see the high school taking an interest in teaching our children to play these kinds of instruments and music,” said Selmer Spitzer, founder and leader of the Southern Nevada Symphony Orchestra. “Two of these kids play with us now. I’m always recruiting. I’m very impressed with their talent and their obvious love of this type of music.”