YOUTH ORCHESTRA STRETCHES MUSICIANS' ABILITIES.

Byline: Heidi Ried Youth columnist

Music is meant to be fun for members of the Santa Clarita Valley Youth Orchestra, which boasts top talents from 8 to 20 years old.

Bernardo Feldman, who heads the program, said he doesn't like to set strict limits for the members of the program.

"We encourage them to have music as a hobby," said Feldman, music department chairman of College of the Canyons, which hosts the orchestra.

The program is one of the few in the Los Angeles area where young musicians perform orchestral and chamber masterpieces from all periods.

About 75 students are enrolled in this semester's program. Since 1993, the orchestra has been a two-tiered program serving intermediate and advanced students.

Sally Angel, president of the Youth Orchestra Foundation, said over the past three years the orchestra has grown in talent.

"We used to lose kids to orchestras in the L.A. area, but now youths stay with us, developing a super, super advanced orchestra," she said.

The two-tiered program has enabled the organization to be able to select students with high skill levels, Angel said.

"The intermediate students have something to work toward. It challenges the more experienced kids," she said.

Students gain experience, especially in the orchestra's cultural exchange program. In July, about 31 members will travel to Harlow, England, to perform and take classes.

The performers will stay with orchestra members from England for more than two weeks. The exact schedule of the trip hasn't been decided but will include playing in two concerts with the British orchestra.

The two advanced groups from each country will play together, as will the two intermediate groups. The American students will tour London and visit France for a day, Angel said.

Last year, about 30 young British performers came to COC with their conductor to tour and perform.

"Socially, it's a great opportunity for the English people. California represents the United States in many ways," Feldman said.

Feldman said it was an emotional time when the trip ended.

"I confess, I was happy to have them here, but I cried when they left," he said.

To audition for the orchestra, players prepare a piece of music, sight-read a work and also play a scale or two on their instruments.

The next audition will be held at the end of August.

Feldman said establishing relationships with other students provides an important lesson for youths.

"We want to provide an environment that sets kids with positive things," he said.

The orchestra was established in 1960 when the Los Angeles Conservatory of Music began a curriculum that included an orchestra for high school students with musical talent. In 1969, the orchestra became the Youth Orchestra of the School of Music at California Institute of the Arts.

In 1985, CalArts helped form the SCV Youth Foundation to administer and raise funds for the orchestra program. College of the Canyons adopted the program in January 1989.

College of the Canyons offers the program as a credit class through its music department. Students should apply to the college and must have a signed, concurrent-enrollment form from their own school. Tuition fees are $23 per unit and include a mandatory $10 health fee.

Each semester, the orchestra offers community performances. A spring concert is scheduled for 7 p.m. May 11 at the college. Members plan a fund-raising rummage sale April 27 and are collecting items, Angel said.

For information about registration, event dates or making contributions, call the public information office at the college at [phone].