April 2016 – Notes n Letters

Loudoun Symphony to debut award-winning composition

Steven Snethkamp, a composer based in East Lansing, Mich., will find himself in esteemed company Saturday, when his name joins those of composers such as Beethoven and Mussorgsky on the program of “Orchestral Palettes,” the final concert of the Loudoun Symphony Orchestra’s 25th-anniversary season.

The centerpiece of the concert, at Stone Bridge High School in Ashburn, will be the professional premiere of Snethkamp’s composition, “Interstellar Arias,” winner of this year’s American Composer Competition. The concert will open with Beethoven’s “Consecration of the House Overture” and conclude in grand fashion with Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition.”

Prom to benefit childhood cancer charities

There will be gowns and tuxedos, limousines and a catered dinner, chandeliers and a disc jockey. There will also be hats. Lots of hats.

But Freedom High School in South Riding will not be having a typical prom this year. The school has decided that all the money that would usually be spent to create an evening of luxury and entertainment for students will be used to fight childhood cancer.

Instead of a fancy hotel, Saturday’s prom will take place at the high school, where the cafeteria and gym will be transformed into a dining room and ballroom.

Loudoun supervisors adopt budget

Torn between the competing goals of fully funding the school board’s budget request and avoiding a tax increase, the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors settled on a compromise spending plan Tuesday for fiscal 2017.

Three Republican supervisors joined three Democrats to approve a $2.46 billion budget that slightly raises the real property tax rate but falls about $16.9 million short of the school board’s request. The school board is now considering options for closing the gap.

Walking to prevent teen suicide

On Wednesday, Woodgrove students and staff members will take part in a 1.5-mile “We’re All Human” walk to raise awareness of teen suicide. The walk will be co-sponsored by the Ryan Bartel Foundation, which was created by Ryan’s parents to help prevent such deaths. Organizers say they hope the walk will encourage students who are considering taking their lives to reach out for help.

Full story…

Washington Post, April 3, 2016