A local fifth-grader was able to spend time with a Grammy-winning conductor, and experience the life-changing spotlight of leading the Louisville Orchestra on her own.

And Ivy Sandrella is thankful to her Centerfield Elementary School music teacher Erin King for giving her such an incredible opportunity.

But King says, “Ivy earned it.”

Seeing it ‘in real life’

The Louisville Orchestra Conducting School offers a Young Conductors Program (YCP), something that began way back in the 1930s. Each school that plans a visit to see the orchestra has the opportunity to choose one student to learn to conduct.

King says during the event in March, there were 10-plus schools watching the orchestra, but only four participated in the YCP.

Teddy Abrams is the music director of the orchestra — and is also a Grammy winner, receiving Best Classical Instrumental Solo at this year’s awards. He worked with the group of elementary students chosen in order to get them prepared to lead the orchestra, each for a song on their own.

“We had participated in the program pre-COVID …” King says, who’s taught at Centerfield Elementary for 13 years. Originally from Missouri, she’s been teaching for almost two decades in total. She taught a few years in Baltimore, as well as at both inner-city and magnet schools in Chicago.

One prior Centerfield student, Paul Doyle, was also a solo student conductor, probably a high-schooler by now, King says.

And field trips are kind of limited anymore, but King says this was important to get her kids to. “I thought they needed to see it in real life — they don’t get the work that goes into performing with an instrument, or conducting.”

The trip was partially funded by a Louisville arts association, and the students had to pay for the bus. After the performance, they went out to eat together.

King says, “They were talking and reflecting. And Ivy felt like a rock star — which she should have. She was amazing …”

Ivy says when she found out they could sign up to compete for the student conductor spot, “working with Teddy Abrams … I signed up and I got chosen.”

King says the kids filled out a questionnaire, explaining why they thought the solo conducting gig would be beneficial for them.

“Ivy explained how music has been a part of her life — she plays piano …” But King says what she appreciated the most about Ivy’s answer was, “it wasn’t just that she wanted to do this. She said ‘I love music and I can take this with me into my future.’ That it’s a memory that will be part of her story forever … That meant a lot to me, so purposeful,” King says.

Credit is due

Ivy says standing off to the side of the stage, she was really nervous at first. “Whenever they took us backstage, we were deciding who would intro the song, play the middle and who would end it. I volunteered to start the song, and whenever I walked out I regretted it …”

But she got into it — quickly. Ivy says, “I would want to do it again. They said … I did good.”

Kevin Sandrella says, “We said we were so proud …” and that he was shocked by how his daughter “looked like a legitimate conductor up there.”

Wendy Sandrella says Ivy looked like a pro. “Mrs. King worked with her and gave her confidence. She was ready.”

Ivy says she just went to work in front of the orchestra, and didn’t even think about it “until I got back to my seat. I didn’t think I’d do that good.”

Ivy’s mom says she’s extremely proud of her daughter, but she’s just as proud of King. As much as she wants her daughter to be in the spotlight, Wendy Sandrella says it’s important to give credit where credit is due.

“She’s just such a personable teacher. And she gets down on the kids’ level, it’s not all about pleasing the parents. She pushes the kids, too, to do what they want, what their interests are.”

Wendy Sandrella says King puts the kids “in the light, in the center of attention, she lets them get used to it, having eyes on them while they play music, sing or conduct.” She says some of the kids never knew conducting was even a real job.

“She shows the world to them and gives them opportunities that I just think a lot of people don’t. She puts the time and effort into it, leads a local choir and takes them all over La Grange, and she’s got twins at home! She puts in a lot of time for the kids — for our kids.”

King says there seems to be a disconnect between certain kinds of music and kids today. “So that’s something I try and work on.”

Wendy Sandrella says she was particularly proud when she found out King allowed Ivy to teach class one day, that she came home beaming from it and really enjoyed it.

“That’s been a running joke with the class,” King says, giggling. She says they were learning how to read notes, and Ivy spoke up that she already knew how.

“I told her, ‘OK, well I need a break, why don’t you just teach class tomorrow.’ She said, ‘OK!’ and I really didn’t think she’d say that …” King says. But Ivy came in the next day prepared, “and it was actually really great. I loved it.”

Ivy says that when she grows up, “I want to be a teacher, or have some sort of job around music. Or both.”