A Very Special Event
The Kaleidoscope Concert at Minnesota Orchestra Hall

Lucy Sotak

With the beautiful hall of the Minnesota Orchestra as the setting, fourteen young musicians were featured in concert at a first-of-its-kind event for the SAA.

The Kaleidoscope Concert, organized in conjunction with the SAA’s 15th Biennial Conference and recorded for potential radio and television broadcast, brought together talented students from around the country performing pieces from and beyond the Suzuki repertoire.

Della Lucinda Gardner, 5, opened the concert with a set of Twinkle Variations that warmed the hearts of the audience with her confident and clear sound. Even while listening to Gavin George’s sensitive and proficient Fantasie Impromptu by Chopin, many audience members commented that they were reminded by Della’s performance that Gavin also started with Twinkle.

Bill McGlaughlin, host of the radio shows Saint Paul Sunday and Exploring Music, was the host for the event. He introduced each performer and conducted interviews after their performances. His warmth helped the students open up in front of the audience. The students†answers ranged from contemplative and mature to adorable and humorous. When Mr. McGlaughlin asked flutist Nadira Novruzov whether it was she or her teacher who decided to create the beautiful echo effect in one particular phrase, her matter-of-fact reply, to the delight of the audience, was, “Well, itâ€s written that way in the music.”

A showcase event, the young students who performed were chosen through an association-wide audition process. Representing several instrumental disciplines and stages of study, they were:

Nadira Novruzov

Yesong Sophie Lee

Della Lucinda Gardner, 5 (UT), a violin student of Deborah Moench, performing Twinkle Variations A, C & Theme arranged by Shinichi Suzuki

Shun Nakashima, 5 (MI), guitar, who was accompanied by his teacher MaryLou Roberts and performed Meadow Minuet by Frank Longay

Lucy Sotak, 9 (CO), a harp student of Mary Kay Waddington, performing L’Egyptienne by Jean-Philippe Rameau, transcribed by Henriette Renié

Gavin George, 9 (OH), a piano student of Mary Craig Powell performing Fantasie Impromptu, Op. 66 by Frédéric Chopin

Ida Beckett, 9 (NY), a piano student of Sheila Keats, performing Sonatina in C Major, Op. 55, No. 1, Mvt. 1 & 2 by Friedrich Kuhlau

Matthew Ho, 8 (TX), a violin student of Charles Krigbaum performing the Concerto No. 2 in G Major, Op. 13, 3rd Mvt. by Fritz Seitz

William Tan, 7 (IL), a cello student of Sally Gross performing “The Two Grenadiers” by Robert Schumann

Finian Burns, 9 (NY), a violin student of Kirsten Marshall performing the Sonata in E Minor, Sonata Accademia, Op. 2, No. 11, Minuet and Gavotte by Francesco Maria Veracini

Lucie Ticho, 14 (IL), a cello student of Tanya Carey, performing the Sonata for Solo Violoncello, III, Toccata by George Crumb

Caroline Richards, 15 (UT), a harp student of ShruDeLi Ownbey performing the Passacaglia by G. F. Handel, edited by Y. Kondonassis

Johannes Gray

Nadira Novruzov, 9 (NY), a flute student of Valerie Holmes, performing Carnaval de Venice, Op. 14 by Pierre Agricole Genin

Sophie Lee, 8 (WA), a violin student of Jan Coleman, performing Praeludium and Allegro in the style of Pugnani by Fritz Kreisler

Sarafina Oh, 13 (NY), a piano student of Maria Pereira, performing O Polichinelo, from “A prole do bebê, No.1” by Heitor Villa-Lobos

Johannes Gray, 14 (IL), a student of Gilda Barston, closed the concert performing Csárdás for cello & piano, by Vittorio Monti transcribed by Deŝtalj

No one can deny that the night was filled with beautiful performances, but more importantly, it was an inspiring reminder that Suzuki teachers and families are together shaping our children into incredible people.

Robertson and Sons Violin Shop, Inc., was the sole sponsor for this event, and the SAA extends its gratitude.

Order your copy of the Kaleidoscope Concert DVD today!