FIDDLER TO PLAY FOR INAUGURATION

As she has thousands of times before, Liesl Schoenberger picked up the violin, studied it briefly, and began to play.

"That's one of my favorites," Liesl said after finishing the traditional bluegrass tune called "Tom and Jerry."

It is possible that this song will be heard by Gov. Mel Carnahan and other high-ranking state officials Monday when Liesl performs in Jefferson City during Inauguration Day activities.

"It's an honor to do it," she said. "I'm very excited."

Liesl was asked to represent Missouri's River Heritage Region by Mary Miller, director of the Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitor's Bureau. Miller said Liesl was the obvious choice.

"What better representative of Cape Girardeau and the River Heritage Region than a talented young lady playing the official state instrument?" Miller said. "If you can attend the festivities and hear Liesl play, I guarantee you are in for a treat."

Liesl is the 1996 Missouri Junior Fiddle champion. She is also a seventh-grader at St. Mary's Catholic School and the daughter of Dr. John and Brenda Schoenberger.

"When Liesl holds the instrument, it becomes part of her," said Brenda Schoenberger. "She's certainly gifted."

Liesl said she has always loved music. "I like the feeling that goes into it," she said. "It can do so much; it can make you happy, it can make you sad. It really influences people."

At the Inaugural Day celebration, Monday afternoon will be dedicated to honoring Missouri's heritage, Miller said.

The event, which will be held at the Capital Plaza Hotel in Jefferson City, will begin at 12:15 p.m. and continue through 5 p.m. Liesl will perform from 12:40 p.m. to 1:05 p.m.

Ten vacation regions of Missouri will be represented at the event, Miller said. Each booth will include arts, crafts and displays, depicting their particular region, she said.

About 3,000 to 4,000 people are expected to attend the activities which include the swearing-in ceremony at 11:30 a.m., and the Inaugural Ball at 6:30 p.m.

The Schoenbergers will be leaving for Jefferson City tonight. "It's exciting," said Brenda Schoenberger. "It should be a real learning experience for Liesl."

While most 2 1/2-year-olds were still learning to form sentences with more than two words, Liesl had already begun violin lessons.

"They were leery about Liesl's age," Brenda Schoenberger said. "But she was a quick learner."

After studying the instrument at Southeast Missouri State University, she attended three years of lessons at the St. Louis Symphony Music School. She then went on to study at Indiana University School in Bloomington, Ind.

In the summer of 1996, Liesl toured in France and Switzerland with a violin group consisting of high school students. She has also given many recitals in classical music in several states.