By Mary O’KEEFE

This Sunday a local violinist will take the stage at the Alex Theatre for her first solo with the Glendale Youth Orchestra.
The performance is the orchestra’s season finale of their 22nd season. Sarah Worden is a Crescenta Valley High School freshman. She has been playing violin for seven and a half years. This is her first year with The Glendale Youth Orchestra.
She will be performing Mendelssohn violin Concerto in E Minor. She discovered the violin in elementary school.
“Its the music,” she said of her favorite part of playing violin. “It is always really beautiful to play.  It is also fun.”
When asked what part of playing the violin is not fun she said, “the long hours of practicing.”
When she was seven she began studying the violin with Herman Markosian at the Metzler Violin Shop in Glendale.  For the last three and a half years she has also been studying Markosian’s brother Boris. It may be common to have two instructors however when one is in Glendale and the other is in Moscow, it is a little unusual.
Boris lives and plays in an orchestra in Moscow, Russia. Sarah’s lessons are conducted via Skype.
“It mostly goes well, sometimes we have connection problems,” Sarah said.
Sarah has adjusted to the time difference between California and Russia by having lessons at 10 a.m. and 8 p.m.
“I think all teachers are different in their teaching styles,” she said. “[Boris] is very thorough.”
She continues to study with Herman as well as his brother. Sarah did get to meet Boris a year ago when he visited family in California.
“I got to have lessons for a month, face to face,” she added.
Sarah was a participant of the 2009 Pasadena Pops Side by Side Orchestra. She placed first in the intermediate level of the 2010 Callie Mcgrath Competition, was finalist in the 2011 LAPhil Young Musicians Competition and a finalist in the 2009 Valley Cultural Competition. Sarah also plays in her high school symphonic orchestra.
She may continue her music in college.
“I think it is a definite possibility. I am not sure if I can imagine myself as a violin major,” she said.
In addition to violin, Sarah is a soccer player.
“I play in CV Soccer Club and [CVHS] varsity soccer,” she added.
Even while playing soccer she keeps her violin studies in mind.
“I try to be careful when I play soccer,” she said.
The Glendale Youth Orchestra performance will be at 7 p.m. on Sunday at the Alex Theatre, 216 No. Brand Blvd., Glendale. Tickets are $10 and may be purchased from the Alex Theatre Box Office. Students, children and seniors’ tickets are $8.50 each. For more information visit www.alextheatre.org

  Mary Okeefe, MAY 19, YOUTH