In the 2025-2026 season, three young composers collaborated virtually with teaching artist Kristin Vining to create and orchestrate original compositions. These works were performed by the Walla Walla Symphony at Journeys on March 17, 2026.

Beginner/Intermediate Cohort Selections

Ellie Blasy is a homeschooled 5th grader. She has been playing piano for 6 years and hopes to learn the cello in the future. Ellie has taken 8 SPARK! sessions, most of the pieces she composed were inspired by animals. When not composing, she’s playing with friends, crafting, baking, reading, or enjoying time with her dogs and many pet fish.

"My inspiration for Fishy Fun was composing the movements, personalities, and characteristics of my pet fish."

Elias Zhang is currently a seventh grader in West Richland who loves building things.

"I went to the Seattle aquarium and saw this huge tank full of all sorts of fish.”

Advanced Cohort Selection

Daniel Seleverstov is a pianist and composer of almost three years, but despite the small amount of time he has been practicing his craft, he has made a remarkable amount of progress in both fields.

He has written about 30 original compositions and can play music by composers like Chopin or Prokofiev due to practicing every day.

”I wanted to produce a light and playful, but also dramatic and mysterious waltz which creates a feeling of being in a fair or carnival.”