PORT ANGELES — When concertmaster Erin Hennessey picks up her bow, she commands more than just her violin.
The 17-year-old Port Angeles High School junior also commands the respect of her fellow members of the Port Angeles High School Chamber Orchestra — and of the state of Washington.
Earlier this month, Hennessey was named the top high school violinist in the state at the 2012 Washington Interscholastic Activities Association’s State Solo and Ensemble Contest.
“It’s quite an honor,” orchestra director Ron Jones said. “Violin is one of the more competitive instruments in the state.”
More than 1,000 violinists qualified to compete, he said.
But it’s not the only honor the young violinist has received for her talent and hard work.
Hennessey won the 2012 Young Artists Competition, a contest sponsored by the Port Angeles Symphony Orchestra, on Jan. 28 and received a $500 scholarship.
The year before, she received an honorable mention in the contest.
While she was competing for individual honors, Hennessey also led the Port Angeles High School Chamber Orchestra to a second straight state title under Jones’ tutelage.
The chamber orchestra competes against all schools in the state, no matter what size, Jones said.
That means Port Angeles’ orchestra competes against big schools in Seattle and Tacoma.
When asked for the secret to the orchestra’s success, all hands pointed to the girl with the worn, well-loved violin.
Hennessey, daughter of Bill and Kathie Hennessey, has been playing violin since age 4 and started off with an improvised violin made of a box and a ruler, she said.
Her current violin is an Italian-made instrument she selected at age 12, chosen because she said its sound was just right.
Hennessey studied with Jo Dee Ahmann in Port Angeles for nine years and now drives to Tacoma for weekly lessons with Maria Sampen, a doctor of music.
She said she plans to major in music in college but has not yet selected a school.
The busy schedule doesn’t seem to be a big deal or a special effort to the young musician.
“It’s not difficult when you love to do it,” Hennessey said.
While Hennessey has a personal drive to succeed and support from her parents and instructors, she also gets a lot of support from the orchestra members in her expectation of quality musicianship.
During an impromptu performance, the chamber orchestra’s many string instruments blended together seamlessly, a reflection of the group’s years of playing together.
“We’re comfortable with each other,” said senior
Kaitlin Fairchild.
Most members of the chamber orchestra have been playing together for at least two years, and some have been members of the same orchestras since the eighth grade.
About half of the members are seniors.
“Once you make chamber orchestra, you don’t leave,” said senior Tarah Erickson.
They have their preferred composers and quickly named “Embraceable You” by George Gershwin as their No. 1 favorite piece.
As a group, they have an expectation of success, they said.
“We have a mind-set that we should be near the top. It’s always stressful, but we know we’re good enough,” Fairchild said.
“We expect one of our groups to win,” Kyle Bozich said.
That expectation of quality musicianship and teamwork will be instilled in next year’s new members as the chamber orchestra, led by Hennessey in her final year at Port Angeles High School, prepares to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York on March 31 next year.
The Port Angeles High School’s orchestra has performed on the famed Carnegie Hall stage once every four years since 1989 as part of a Carnegie student performance program.
The chamber orchestra will perform in several upcoming events.
The chamber orchestra will perform with other Port Angeles High School orchestras at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 23, at the Port Angeles High School performing arts center.
Entry to the concert is free, but donations are appreciated.
But before that, the group will present an Elegant Evening of Waltz on Saturday to raise money for its trip to New York.
The chamber orchestra will perform live for an evening of ballroom dancing at the Masonic Temple, 622 S. Lincoln St., Port Angeles.
The dance will begin at
7 p.m. with an hour of professional dance instruction, followed by two hours of ballroom dancing.
Light refreshments will be served throughout the evening.
Tickets are $20 per person in advance or $25 at the door, and includes dance instruction, refreshments and dancing.
For more information and reservations, contact Michele Haworth at 360-452-5914 or cpadds@olypen.com.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.
