AMES, Iowa -- Musical backdrops to beloved fairy tales and performances by two of Iowa's most talented young artists will create an enchanted world for children and their families at the Central Iowa Symphony program February 24 in Ames.

Central Iowa Symphony will present "Nursery Rhymes and Fairy Tales" at 7:30 p.m. in Ames City Auditorium. Also on the program will be winners of the 2007 Central Iowa Symphony Young Artist auditions, Daniel Park of Ames and Ben Wedeking of Des Moines, both performing virtuoso pieces on violin.

"This concert will truly feature the finest for families and children," said CIS conductor and music director James Hannon. "The performances by our Young Artists are always amazing because of the professionalism, technical prowess, and mature musicianship shown by these young people. The other pieces also offer a wonderful way to introduce children to the symphony."

The orchestra will perform selections from Maurice Ravel's Mother Goose Suite. Composed in 1908 in France, the music incorporates characters from several nursery rhymes including Tom Thumb, Beauty and the Beast and a fairy garden. Hannon said Ravel even composed a piano variation that could be performed by children.

Members of the audience may recognize some of the music from Peter Tchaikovsky's Sleeping Beauty, particularly the ballet. "This is a very beautiful waltz, which Walt Disney drew from nearly 70 years later in making the beloved animation," Hannon said.

Hannon said that music has a way to connect generations, as do nursery rhymes and fairy tales. "These are the things we all grow up with and can pass along to our children," he said. "The interesting part is to hear how these composers have rendered music to these stories."

At least two groups of children have already been thinking about the strong connections between fairy tales and art. More than 50 elementary children from St. Cecelia and Ames Christian schools have created artwork depicting nursery rhymes and fairy tales. The artwork will be featured at the concert.

The Young Artist selections include the First movement of Mozart's Violin Concerto No. 3, performed by Park, and the fourth movement of Max Bruch's Scotch Fantasy, performed by Wedeking.

Another highlight for the concert will be a special selection to be conducted by the couple who collect the most votes (dollars) in the Make Me a Maestro fundraiser for the symphony. Candidates are John and Cindy Paschen, Jack and Renee Payne, and Brian and Gina Smith, all of Ames.

Tickets for the concert are $14 for adults, $11 for seniors and $5 for students of all ages (children 5 and under are free). A discount of $2 per ticket is available for groups of 10 or more.

Tickets may be purchased at Reiman Music in downtown Ames, via credit card by calling Ames City Auditorium, (515) 239-5360, or at the door.

ABOUT OUR YOUNG ARTISTS

Daniel Park, 17, is a junior at Ames High School, where he is a member of the orchestra, symphonic band, jazz band, pep band and drumline. He also regularly performs with the Central Iowa Symphony, and his brother and sister performed as CIS Young Artists in 2003.

Daniel has studied violin with Won-Jun Kim (1996-1998), Elaine Badiere (2001-2001), Jonathan Sturm at Iowa State University (2001-2005) and Mahlon Darling (current). He also is studying percussion with Barry Larkin at Iowa State (2004-present). In addition to his violin and percussion studies, Daniel has studied viola, trumpet and piano.

Daniel has performed with a number of honor ensembles on violin as well as percussion. From 2003 through 2005, he was violinist for the Iowa Youth Symphony and Iowa Youth Chamber Orchestra; and in 2006 he was percussionist for the same two organizations. He performed with the SCIBA Honor Band on percussion (2003, 2006, 2007), and the Iowa All-State orchestra on violin (2004, 2005). He has received Division I (top) ratings in solo and ensembles, performing on violin, percussion and trumpet.

Daniel has attended Iowa State music camps the past four years, performing as principal second violin in 2004 and 2005. In 2006 and 2007, he performed percussion with the Iowa State University Honors Orchestra. In 2003, he was co-concertmaster for the Iowa Junior Honors Orchestra and was selected for the Des Moines Symphony Alliance Honors Orchestra.

He is the son of Young and Helen Park of Ames.


Ben Wedeking, 17, is a senior at Roosevelt High School in Des Moines, where he is co-concertmaster of the orchestra and a member of the Roosevelt String Quartet that performs frequently in the Des Moines area.

He began studying the violin at the age of 5 with Kathy Hykes at Edmunds Academy of Fine Arts in Des Moines (1995-2002). More recently he has studied with Linda Swanson (2002-2006) and Lin He (2006-present). He has attended the American Suzuki summer institute in Stevens Point, Wisconsin every summer since 1996, and has participated in the two-week chamber program for advanced musicians.

Ben also has participated in the ISU chamber music camp several years. For the past three years, he has been a member of the Iowa All-State orchestra, and currently is an alternate player for the Des Moines Symphony.

In addition to his violin studies, Ben studies classical guitar, piano and voice and participates in numerous performing groups. He plans to major in music, continuing his study in violin and classical guitar.

He is the son of Bill and Elaine Wedeking of Des Moines.

More about our Young Artist program