Shannon Stein, 9, recently performed the first Suzuki-method recital, a book one graduation, for the Bay Area. Shannon is a third-grader at North Bay Elementary School. She studies violin at Southwestern Oregon Community College with Myriam Harvey, strings instructor.

What makes Shannon’s feat noteworthy, according to Harvey, is that, in six months, she memorized the entire contents of book one, a collection of folk and classical pieces of increasing difficulty. She played 16 pieces, accompanied by Southwestern piano student Hau-Yan “Pico” Lam. The audience of about two dozen in Sunset Hall seemed impressed with the young soloist’s poise; the more so when she forgot a phrase, regrouped and continued playing, according to Harvey.

Shannon began violin lessons at age 6 with local violinist Jackie Cone, a member of Southwestern’s community orchestra. Along with Cone, Shannon plays in the college’s “Simply Strings” junior orchestra, conducted by Harvey. Shannon also performs at church events, and occasionally at the local chapter of the Oregon Old Time Fiddlers, along with her dad, Stuart, who plays mandolin.