"I messed up, I just really messed up," said violinist Catherine McDonald, lamenting her performance at Saturday evening's Santa Fe Youth Symphony concert.

Undoubtedly, the 15-year-old Santa Fe Preparatory School freshman was being much tougher on herself than were any of the 80 or so people in the audience at the fourth annual "Spotlight on Youth" event at the Scottish Rite Center.

McDonald, who danced her violin through the lush trills of Beethoven's spring sonata (the first movement of Sonata No. 5 for Violin and Piano), was among some 100 music students who performed solos or in ensembles in two shows.

The first group was composed of students 13 to 18, and the second concert featured mainly elementary students.

"The talent displayed this year was overwhelming," said Benjamin Klemme, musical director of the Santa Fe Youth Symphony Association.

The association for the first time opened up auditions for Saturday concerts to any young musicians, not solely members of the youth symphony. As a result, audition turnout was unprecedented, prompting two concerts instead of the usual one.

Klemme said in previous years, perhaps 50 students would audition, but this year there were 200 prospective musicians for the 100 spots available. "It's a testament to the hard work done by school and (community) music teachers. There is some great music teaching going on."

The selections listed on the program varied greatly — from Vivaldi's tricky but soul-soaring Concerto in G Minor played by violinist Ezra Shcolnik and pianist Kelvin McNeal to Sky Korber's toe-tapping renditions of "Grace O' Malley", which Korber wrote, and "Maid Behind the Bar."

The eclectic nature of the programs stemmed in great part from the fact that students performed pieces they had chosen and played in their auditions.

As the audience was filing out for intermission, McDonald conceded that she usually is more critical than her audiences are regarding her performances. After all, no musician ever got to Carnegie Hall (or even the Lensic) by believing the audience plaudits — especially when most of them come from relatives or the parents of friends.

But there was little time for the young violinist to reflect on the evening's performance. Catherine and her dad, Paul McDonald, were off to yet another musical event — a performance of Fame at Santa Fe Prep.

For more information on the youth symphony visit www.sfys.org.

Dennis Carroll can be reached at 986-3091 or dcarroll@sfnewmexican.com.