In Summer 2022, eight young composers submitted fully orchestrated original compositions to be considered for the first-ever “SPARK! Premieres" on October 4. Each composer worked virtually with teaching artist Kristin Vining to realize their piece, and to explore the musical opportunities afforded by an orchestral instrumentation.

One piece was selected randomly from the beginner/intermediate cohorts, and one from the advanced cohort.

Beginner/Intermediate Cohort Selection

Sophia Sorensen is in 8th grade at Pioneer Middle School. She has been playing cello for 4 years and piano for 5 years. She has completed 7 SPARK! sessions, composing a new work for each session. Sophia has also been practicing karate for four years.

“I originally composed “Raft” for flute, cello, and piano in the spring of 2021 during my fourth SPARK! session. I was inspired by a raft floating on a river, hitting rapids, and making it to safety. The orchestral version of my piece feels more expansive, like a raft on an ocean running into rough waters, then making it to shore.”

-Sophia Sorensen

Advanced Cohort Selection

Thalassa Phoebe, a homeschooled high school sophomore, plays guitar, bass, and ukulele; and writes and sings what might be called Sparkle punk/alt rock/fifth wave emo music. Thalassa has completed 7 Spark! Symphony sessions, and loves being the Live Sound Engineer Intern at Gesa Powerhouse Theatre, where she’s worked for over a year.

“‘Masquerade’ emerged in response to my thinking about scenes in Operas and Ballets when guests at dinner parties interact within formal architectural spaces. I love concepts of organized chaos, dynamics (as represented by distinct instruments) of different sorts of people meeting and parting continuously, and possibilities of a sequence of shifting moments in which sounds interplaying might create atmospheres of intimacy, whimsy, and elegance.”

-Thalassa Phoebe

Additional Composer Submissions

Zephyrus Axel, a homeschooled high school senior who loves studying languages and all forms of art, plans to pursue a career in animation after attending college. Zephyr enjoys creating and incorporating musical compositions as soundtracks for original animated films. This was Zephyr’s fifth Spark Session.

“My inspiration for "Western Wind Rhapsody" was summer gusts that blow through the valley, the massive swells of air bringing untamed energy and weather patterns that shake everything in the environment including human emotions. I tried to mimic that feeling of rising in my song, letting bits of energy spark with orchestral bells, the strings adding a bit of bass, while the woodwinds sweep listeners up to feel transported by my piece, I hope, toward a refreshed sense of calm and joy.”

-Zephyrus Axel

Lily Franklin is a senior at Walla Walla High School who has played jazz and classical trumpet for six years. She is an honor student interested in math and the hard sciences who looks forward to a scientific career.

Ava Kirtley is a senior at Walla Walla High School and has been playing bass for eight years. She is the president of the WaHi orchestra and involved in many clubs on campus.

“We wanted to write a multi-movement symphonic piece inspired by the nine muses from Greek mythology. Clio is the muse of history, and Melpomene and Thalia are the muses of tragedy and comedy, respectively.”

-Lily Franklin and Ava Kirtley

Ember Richardson is currently a senior attending Walla Walla High School and Walla Walla Community College. She has been playing cello since 5th grade, and has a passion for composing and performing music.

“The first few measures of An Evergreen Symphony are inspired by an excerpt of La Mer by Debussy. After that, it evolves into the reflection of a rainforest.”

-Ember Richardson

Teresa Wheeler enjoys playing piano (in particular jazz), acting, singing, painting, drawing, and traveling the world with her family. Her passion for piano compels her to embrace every opportunity to share her love of music with others.

"In songwriting The Jungle's Triumph, I wanted to explore rhythms that are less common in orchestral pieces. Fortunately, I didn't have to look far, as Pink Martini's Bolero and Amado Mio sparked my imagination, and the rest flowed from there! Enjoy!"

-Teresa Wheeler