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Old News
Local Orchestra Students at 40th Walnut Valley Festival
Back when the annual Walnut Valley Festival was just a teenager, Bob Redford and Performing artist Andy May had a conversation about the future of the festival. Part of that conversation included discussion about how the kids that were being brought to the Walnut Valley Festival were a part of the future of the festival.
Press release from Walnut Valley Association
There was a strong feeling that there should be activities that would keep youngsters entertained during their visit, help build memories and encourage them to share in the music that makes the Walnut Valley Festival what is has become.
Strings Alternative - Back row (left to right): Kylee Wollard, Michael Moore, Eva Farid and Brandon Pew - Bottom row: Breianna Smith, and Ismail Farid (instructor)
One thing that came out of that conversation has been the Acoustic Kids Program, coordinated and hosted by performer / educator Andy May. Through the years Andy and his wife Lauren have worked with youngsters that have grown to adulthood and reached a high level of success as stage performers. Among the young people that have participated in the Acoustic Kids program is mandolin virtuoso Chris Thile also of Nickel Creek fame. This year some of the young people that will be a part of the Acoustic Kids sets are local Winfield students and their instructor. The group is called Strings Alternative and they are under the direction of assistant orchestra director Ismail Farid. The members of Strings Alternative are Kylee Wollard, Michael Moore, Eva Farid, Brandon Pew and Breianna Smith. They are all students within the Winfield school system, USD 465 and also perform with the schools regular orchestra.
Strings Alternative will get to perform on stage as a portion of Acoustic Kids on two different days, first on Friday morning at Stage 2 during the 9:00 to 11:00 am. set time then again on Saturday morning, Stage 2 also during the 9:00 to 11:00 am. set. Andy May has expressed a great deal of excitement for this year’s group of participants. May said the talent level impresses him each year as he his participation with the next generation of Walnut Valley music musicians and fans continues.
The 40th Walnut Valley Festival begins with a series of hands on workshop and an evening contest winner’s concert on Wednesday, September 14th and runs through Sunday, September 18th. Tickets are available at the Winfield fairgrounds.