YOUNG VIOLINIST TO PRESENT RECITAL

When she was 2 1/2 years old, Liesl Schoenberger began playing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" on a Suzuki Method violin no bigger than a toy.

Sunday, playing a borrowed Italian violin made in 1747, 11-year-old Liesl will play Beethoven's Sonata No. 1 Op. 12 No. 1 and Edouard Lalo's Symphonie Espagnole Op. 21 in a solo recital at Old St. Vincent's Church.

These are difficult works university music students might attempt at their senior recital. Joseph Gingold, a renowned Indiana University violin teacher who died last January, recommended them for her.

"He said she had lots of fire," said Brenda, Liesl's mother.

Liesl is a sweet, pensive girl who plays soccer and is trying to convince her parents that roller blades aren't that dangerous. She is aware that her talents certify her as something of a prodigy, but says, "I enjoy it. That's why I do it. I don't think about how good someone is at a certain age."

Liesl practices three or four hours every day, and three times a month her mother drives her to Bloomington, Ind., to take a lesson from Indiana University violin professor Mimi Zweig.

Dr. John Schoenberger, Liesl's father, is a Cape Girardeau physician.

Liesl is a Schoenberger family name and, appropriately, the name of the oldest child in "The Sound of Music." This year she is being home-schooled by her mother, but previously attended St. Mary's School.

There's another side to Liesl's' musicianship. She also is the junior fiddle champion of Southern Illinois and Southeast Missouri. In September she played before thousands of people at a festival at Fort Kaskasia, Ill.

"Playing the fiddle is more relaxed," she says. "I love the crowd and I feel comfortable on stage."

Playing classical music is more serious business, she says.

Liesl will be accompanied at the free 3 p.m. recital by her piano teacher, Beverly Reece. A reception with cookies and cider will be held at the Schoenberger residence after the program.