The 80-piece Columbia Orchestra never followed the lead of a conductor like this. A pint-sized novice, Valerie Kuehne, 10, handled the baton like a veteran adult.
The fifth-grader at Atholton Elementary School conducted the orchestra in its performance of Waldteufel's "The Skater's Waltz" at the orchestra's third annual Tiny Tots Concert Sunday afternoon at Wilde Lake Interfaith Center. The Linden Ballet Ensemble performed Prokofiev's "Peter and the Wolf."
"I think it went very well," said Valerie, who said she had told all of her friends to attend. "I did a good job."
"She's making history," said the orchestra's regular conductor, Cathy Ferguson. "We've never had anyone that young."
Ms. Ferguson added, "I'll be passing my baton to her for that particular piece ['The Skater's Waltz']."
Valerie won the chance to conduct the orchestra during a silent auction in March 1994 to raise money for the orchestra. Determined to win, the girl outbid adults at $39.
"I wrote it [the bid] in first and then everybody tried to outbid me," Valerie said, adding the conductor approached her and said she wanted her to be the guest conductor. "That was nice."
Valerie went to the auction well-prepared. "She had a fair amount of allowance saved up," her mother, Catharine Kuehne, said.
"I think it's a wonderful opportunity to allow people who might have that hidden desire to get up and be a conductor . . . especially children," Ms. Ferguson said of the silent auction.
To make the young members in the audience feel comfortable, the orchestra planned to dress casually during Sunday's concert.
"We will not be in the black witch's costume we wear otherwise," said Elaine Newhall, the orchestra's president.
As her debut neared last week, Valerie said that she was excited and nervous. "I'm a little nervous. I'm scared I might mess up or something like that," said Valerie, who plays the cello.
Her father, Bruce, is a violinist in the orchestra.
"She's just on top of the world," her mother said.
Ms. Ferguson said she felt pretty comfortable with Valerie's ability because she had a musical background. She gave her "The Skater's Waltz" because it isn't too complicated.
To help her debut in a stellar manner, Ms. Ferguson gave Valerie some tips. "I've given her some pointers on how to get the baton up and where the beats need to be to have the orchestra follow her," she said.
To prepare for the concert, Valerie rehearsed Monday nights with the orchestra for three weeks and also in the living room of her home, where she tried to follow the notes her father played on the piano.
"I've been using a pencil," Valerie said of her baton substitute.
Mrs. Kuehne said she was surprised that her daughter actually got a chance to lead a full orchestra.
"I kind of laughed and thought it was cute [at first], but I never expected she'd conduct the orchestra," Mrs. Kuehne said.
Valerie's performance is a way orchestras can attract young audiences, which is a growing problem across the nation, Ms. Ferguson said.
"If children see someone they can relate to . . . it sparks interest," she said.
By attending the Tiny Tots show, youngsters can learn that "this is not a mystical or magical thing. It's something any one of them can do," Ms. Ferguson said.
At least Valerie had her interest sparked by her performance.
"I might want to do this again when I grow older," she said.