A 17-year-old Saratoga High School senior, Jessica is a talented violinist who earned a place in the prestigious California Youth Symphony--which performs many international tours--when she was in the sixth grade.

"I've been playing violin ever since I was 7 years old," says Jessica. "I played piano first at the age of 5. Then I decided to try a new instrument, and my mom really helped me choose."

Jessica is not alone in her love of music--in fact, she comes from quite the musical family. Her mother, Su-Yu Ling, is a piano teacher; her younger sister, Alice, a 15-year-old Saratoga High student, plays the cello in the symphony; and her younger brother, Timothy, a 10-year-old Argonaut Elementary School student, plays the violin and hopes to audition for the CYS later this year.

Jessica's hard work and natural talent have paid off; this is the second year in a row she has held the position of co-concertmaster in the youth symphony.

"The concertmaster leads the section and is also considered kind of the helper of the conductor, making sure everyone follows the conductor," Jessica explains.

Jessica says that the official CYS season lasts from September to May each year, beginning with a one-week camp in August. She says that musicians must audition each year to keep their spot in the orchestra, and to determine their ranking in the group. She has earned top ranking two years in a row.

According to its website, the youth symphony was founded in 1952 and has taught upwards of 15,000 students. Each year, it includes 500 student-musicians from the greater Bay Area--ranging in age from 8 to 17 and representing more than 100 elementary, middle and high schools--in its programs. These include the California Youth Symphony Orchestra, the California Youth Symphony Associate Orchestra, a percussion ensemble and six additional groups for younger musicians. It also holds a few different annual competitions that award musicians performing spots and featured solos in its orchestras during concert season. Last year, the 2004 Senior Soloist Competition winner was trumpet player Scott Cook of Saratoga, who is a student at Bellarmine Prep. Scott will be performing Hummel's Trumpet Concerto in the symphony's two upcoming local concerts.

Being a member of the symphony can also help students become seasoned travelers. Since it was formed, the orchestra has completed 14 international summer tours, and Jessica says the group regularly travels abroad for concerts every other year.

"Last summer we went to Italy. Before that was France, and before that was Germany and Switzerland," she says. "We play at festivals, and we also have home stays so we can experience other cultures. My favorite has probably been my first tour, Germany and Switzerland."

These days, in addition to preparing for her upcoming local concerts, Jessica is also looking ahead to college. She says her favorite subjects in school are economics and English literature, and she is eagerly awaiting replies Northwestern, Yale, Stanford, UC-Berkeley, UCLA and UC San Diego.

"They have really good music programs," she says, making it clear she has no intentions of giving up violin any time soon.

And with such a promising and rewarding talent, why should she?

The California Youth Symphony will perform on May 15 in Cupertino and on May 22 in San Mateo. For more information on concerts, as well as audition and competition information for young local musicians, visit www.cys.org.