The passing of the baton

by Sharlene Irete

sirete@recordcourier.com

The Carson Valley Pops Orchestra will play their Fourth of July concert under the direction of the first new conductor in 10 years.

About three months ago, conductor Danny Yale passed his baton and the responsibility of leading the 25-piece orchestra on to 31-year-old Elizabeth King.

King will conduct the Carson Valley Pops Orchestra in the Red, White & Blue Celebration in Heritage Park at 2 p.m. Saturday.

"At first I was asked to be an associate conductor and I ended up helping out more and more," King said. "Danny Yale was patient and gracious. He put his heart and soul into the orchestra."

King played flute years ago in beginning band, but said she makes "more money honkin' on a bari sax." She plays a collection of woodwind instruments - flute, oboe, English horn, tenor and baritone saxophones.

"You get more gigs that way," she said.

She sings and plays English horn in Toccata, The Orchestra and Choral Artists of the Tahoe Area, and plays oboe for the Carson City Symphony.

King received a bachelor's in music from Chico State University and a master's degree in music from Oregon University. The South Lake Tahoe resident taught school band, choir and guitar.

"I taught for nine years in public school, but I'm going back to school and get a registered nurse license, but music won't be out of my life," she said.

"The main thing about becoming conductor was that I wanted to help and it ended up working out. I'm fortunate for the opportunity to work with great people."

Previous director Yale hung up his baton after conducting the Carson Valley Pops for 10 years. His wife Cecilia Yale was first violinist in the orchestra.

"I decided a while ago to back off and let them continue," Yale said. "It was a wonderful 10 years' experience and we did some good work. People who came to the orchestra did their best and were devoted.

"I'm the one who chose Elizabeth," he said. "She played flute in the orchestra, taught school at Tahoe and I saw she had experience conducting and knowledge of music. She has a nice attitude and I thought she would be good for the orchestra."

A lifelong musician, Yale played for 13 years at the Silver Legacy in Reno and had a 14-piece orchestra at the Hyatt Regency in San Francisco.

He said he is thinking about putting some music together for four strings.

"It hit me about two weeks ago -God, I miss playing the violin. I don't miss conducting, although I'll miss the people," he said.

"But I'm a violin player. I'm not ready to put my rosin away and pack it all up."

The Carson Valley Pops Orchestra has a string section, bassoon, trumpets, trombone, piccolo, flutes, clarinets, piano, xylophone and, essential to every Fourth of July repertoire, timpani and cymbals.

On the Red, White & Blue program is "An American Salute," John Philip Sousa marches, an Armed Forces salute, a Pops hoedown. They will wrap up the show with "Stars and Stripes Forever."

"I'm not nervous, but I'd rather play or sing in front of a group rather than talk in front of a group," said King about conducting her first Pops in Heritage Park for the Fourth of July. "I'm thrilled to be part of it."