'Teriffic teens' will strut music stuff this Sunday

The annual Smithfield Performance Series will showcase "terrific teens" Sunday as a musical "extra" in its yearly Sundays at Four concert series.

"Terrific Teen Talent" will feature eight musicians from around the region starting at 4 p.m. at Christ Episcopal Church - host of the series' performances - at 111 S. Church St. The inaugural "Terrific Teens" concert took place last year.

"We had standing room only," said Mary Cole, a member of the Smithfield Performance Series' board. "In fact, we had a larger crowd than for any of our other concerts." A concert featuring talented teens was the brainchild of Heidi Bloch, organist/music director at Christ Episcopal and artistic music director of the Sundays at Four concert series, Cole said.

"She thought it would be nice to provide a performance opportunity for students," Cole explained. "She selected all students who have won awards or achieved at their talent."

Here is a glance at the eight featured "Terrific Teens":

Logan Stambaugh, 15, Smithfield. Logan, who began playing when he was 9, studies jazz and classical guitar at the prestigious Governor's School for the Arts in Norfolk.

Jarad Ford, 18, Smithfield. Jarad is a skilled saxophonist adept at both jazz and gospel. He will major in music at Hampton University this fall on a partial music scholarship where he intends to perform with the school's marching band, The Force, and with several of the university's ensembles. While at college, he will also be a member of the Pirates' golf team.

Richard Freeman, 12, Newport News. Richard has been playing piano since he was a three-year-old able to perform variations of "Amazing Grace" on a kiddie keyboard. He began studying in the Suzuki Method in New Orleans, and is now under the tutelage of Heidi Bloch.

Madison Bunch, 16, Virginia Beach. She studies flute with the Governor's School for the Arts and for the past four years has been a member of the Bay Youth Orchestras, also based in Norfolk. She is also an adept piano and handbell performer.

Rebecca Willett, 14, Virginia Beach. Rebecca began studying piano at 4 and violin since she was 7. She is a violinist with the Bay Youth Orchestras, where she served as concertmaster and was named Outstanding Musician for its Concert Orchestra in 2007. As a pianist she was a soloist in the Virginia Symphony's Young Artists Showcase and, after winning first place in the Richmond Symphony League's Young Artist Concerto Competition, was able to perform with the capital's symphony orchestra in April.

Annika Jenkins, 15, Virginia Beach. Annika made her solo violin debut at 11, playing Mozart with the Virginia Beach Symphony, now Symphonicity. She has earned first-prize awards at a number of regional, district and state competitions. She has performed in master classes at the Juilliard School, Philadelphia Orchestra and Eastman School of Music.

Lauren McKinley, 18, Norfolk, was a member of the Virginia Children's Chorus where she soloed twice with the Virginia Symphony. The Hampton Roads Academy graduate has participated in the Virginia Chorale's Young Singers Project and the All-Virginia High School Chorus. She has performed in many school, community and regional musicals, productions and dramas. She will study at the Boston Conservatory in the fall.

Nathan Jentink, 18, Suffolk. Nathan, who just graduated from the Governor's School for the Arts, will major in musical theater at Florida State University in the fall. He appeared in the Virginia Musical Theater's "West Side Story," along with an array of musical productions with the Governor's School. The tenor is a performer onboard the cruise ship Spirit of Norfolk.

Sunday's teen concert will feature world-class performances, Cole promises music lovers. "It is expected to be a fine concert showcasing some amazing local musical talent."

Eric Feber, 222-5203,

eric.feber@pilotonline.com