Strings of Inspiration!
Artists Collective
Hartford
April 30, 2024
Not to toot my own horn, but I’m not just a band geek — I was band president in high school. I transcribed videogame music for fun. I was about that life.
Going to the Artists Collective on Tuesday night to watch Strings of Inspiration, a performance featuring Grammy-winning violinist Melissa White, let me relive those memories of high school band practice and the joy I used to feel when I played the clarinet (and by “played,” I mean “honked aggressively”).
Although Ms. White, the Joyce C. Willis artist in residence with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra for the 2023 – 2024 season, was the the headliner, she graciously shared the stage with youth from all over the Greater Hartford area. She kicked off the concert with a performance alongside the children of the CREC Ana Grace Academy of the Arts.
Afterwards, Ms. White sat down with Nazyia, a 15 year old student who attends the Collective for dance for a brief interview while the second performance was being set up. Ms. White told the crowd that she’d wanted to play the violin since she was four years old, after seeing someone play it on Sesame Street. She begged her mother for one for two years before she finally agreed, and she’s been playing ever since. When asked what kept her going as she learned the violin, Ms. White said, “It takes desire, it takes practice, and you need to decide who you are.”
Next up were three performers from East Hartford School. Mason Gamble and Aries Djangmah-Yeboah, both college-bound seniors, were on violin, while Sebastian Mardales, a junior, accompanied on piano. The trio played “Concerto in D major, First Movement,” by Bach. Despite being so young, the three played the selection with both tenderness and a wisdom that came from their years of experience, each having started their musical training in elementary school. Mason will attend North Carolina A&T in the fall, while Aries will be up the road at Howard University.
During another brief break, Nazyia asked Ms. White what was her best advice to musicians and other artists who wanted to follow in her footsteps.
Her answer: “Keep doing it, whatever it is. When it gets hard, keep doing it. When you’re unsure, keep doing it, because you’ll be so thankful on the other side.”
Finally the part of the concert came when Ms. White took the stage herself. For her first piece, she was joined by Sophie Shao, a friend and cellist she met while attending a music festival. They performed “Duo for Violin and Cello” by Jesse Montgomery, a contemporary Black woman composer and violinist. She described her piece as an ode to friendship, and the first movement, titled “Antics,” captures the playful spirit of hanging out with your best friend. I enjoyed the distinct sound of the piece; violins are usually associated with long, soulful bowing, but the plucking of the strings by both performers kept the audience on its toes.
Her next piece, which featured Miki Sawada on piano, was titled “Suite for Violin and Piano, Third Movement.” The piece was also written by a Black composer named William Grantstill, who based his compositions on statues. Grantstill based his work on a statue named Gamin. Ms. White’s virtuoso talent was on full display. She’d said earlier that she liked to play the violin because of the way the instrument “sang,” and she definitely made her violin sing as she played over thundering piano runs.
One of the last questions that Nazyia asked Ms. White was about her experience as the only Black person in the room when she was growing up and playing piano. The room on Tuesday night was full of Black violinists. It was a wonderful sight to see so many young people enthralled by classical and chamber music. I hope they’ll go forward and share the love of music the same way that Melissa White has done.
NEXT
The Artists Collective will present “Dance, Theater and Creative Writing — It’s a Wrap” on May 14.
Jamil goes to Hartford Stage for some more theater.
