Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1018883
Savannah Bateman rehearses for the Great Falls Youth Orchestra's fall concert in the Mansfield eatre. She has played violin since third grade and chose the instrument aer watching a performing arts assembly in her Utah elementary school. "I remember watching and I knew I wanted to play the violin," she said. "I'm not sure why, since all of my relatives who were musically involved either sang or played band instruments, but it spoke to me." She is grateful for all the opportunities music has provided her and plans on going into music education aer she graduates from C.M. Russell High. Savannah Bateman Savannah has been running as long as she's been playing violin and they're both big parts of her life. "I have been running for seven years and I honestly don't think I'd still be doing it competitively if it wasn't for my teammates. We truly are a family and we get so close and love and care for each other and it's so so wonderful. I would do anything for my teammates." e violin energizes her and one of her favorite things about playing is how she feels when she performs. "Rehearsing in Orchestra can put me into a good mood faster than almost anything. Without realizing it, I begin to absorb energy I didn't know was there and by the end I feel like I could go run a marathon." ere is also an undeniable connection she experiences when playing. "I felt completely surrounded by the music and could feel how my part fit in with every other part in the orchestra and it was an absolutely unforgeable experience." Ever since, her purpose in performing has been to share that feeling with everyone. SiG MT 24