Strolling Strings Seeks Support For Trip To Seminar In Midwest

For the 35 members of the Strolling Strings of East Valley High School, memorizing their music is a must.

In fact, these youngsters have to know their songs so well that they can play their instruments - violins, violas, cellos and bass - while they walk, while they talk, even while they crack jokes.

“It’s a serenade,” says Caitlyn Labrie, a sophomore violinist who’s delighted to be a Stroller.

“It’s great to look into someone’s eyes and see them smile,” says Sheldon Rippee, an EV senior.

The Strolling Strings are truly teenage ambassadors in Spokane. They play all sorts of music in 50 or more appearances a year, many for retirement communities, benefits or holiday events.

They play The Met, they play the Spokane Club, places that many teenagers in the community never see.

“We are exposed to a lot of the arts, to a lot of culture,” said Jen Nichols, a junior who plays viola.

One morning this week, they played at the Maplewood Retirement Apartments in north Spokane. They enjoyed the rapport they created.

“I was cracking jokes with one guy,” Nichols said.

“Did you see that lady?” asked sophomore Annaliese Bonertz.

“The one who said `You kids can come back anytime’?” replied Labrie.

Strolling Strings members are hoping this good will translate into community support. The group plans to travel in January to the Midwest for a national Strolling Strings seminar.

Cost for the group to go will reach $12,000.

A Strolling Strings CD is available for $15. The group has sold about 400 copies of the CD, which they recorded last spring.

The group’s next performance will be the Saturday before Thanksgiving at the Santa Breakfast at the Spokane Valley Mall.

Donations are appreciated, said Marla Pflanz, Strolling Strings director.

These students work hard at their music, Pflanz said. Although the songs are not technically as difficult as some of their orchestra music, the Strolling Strings members are up early five mornings a week for “zero hour” practice at 6:45 a.m.

“I get up at 5:30,” says Chad Austin, a sophomore cellist.

“I get up at 5,” retorts Dustin Mundell, another 10th grade cellist. “It’s horrible, but it’s all worth it.”

These teens admit that the Strolling Strings pose - the smile, in particular - is tough to perfect in those early morning practices. But they so genuinely enjoy performing, that the smiles come easily when they’re “on.”

“I know that teens aren’t supposed to enjoy being around older people,” said sophomore Annaliese Bonertz. “But I remember this conversation I had with one old guy last year. He came up to me and was telling me how he used to play violin when he was younger. It was really interesting learning about the way things were different then.”

East Valley’s Strolling Strings are the only such group west of the Mississippi River, the students say. In the Midwest, Strolling Strings are much more common. They’re based on the Air Force Strolling Strings, members of which will help critique the teenagers at the January seminar.

This sidebar appeared with the story:

CALL THEM

To reach the Strolling Strings, contact director Marla Pflanz at East Valley High School, 927-3200, or parent Tim Wick, 922-7894.