Violin and guitar artists collaborated on a world premiere Paganini piece at a classical music concert to benefit De Anza music students.
De Anza College hosted a Benefit Concert for music students in the Visual and Performing Arts Center Friday Oct. 26. The ambience of the concert was calm and casual.
Many De Anza students and Bay Area locals showed up to the event in support of funding the scholarships.
The music student scholarships are funded primarily by the U.S. Immigration Investment Center, and about $3,600 was raised for the scholarships before intermission by student donations alone.
By the end of the night, over $4,000 was raised for the music student scholarships.
Joseph Gold, professional violinist, spoke with the press prior to the show on why he was willing to perform at the concert.
“Education is for the future,” said Gold. “We must give the best quality education. People play at a higher level now than they ever did in the past. Students play things that were considered impossible in previous generations.”
The concert featured many set pieces from Italian violinist Niccolo Paganini, including a world premiere of song Ricordanza di Paganini. Gold and his colleague Jaume Torrent, well renowned guitarist, who flew from Spain for this stop of the tour, arranged this piece specifically for this concert.
“I did the arrangement originally for violin and piano, and Jaume made the arrangement-he adapted the piano part for the guitar,” noted Gold. “He’s probably the most outstanding composer for the guitar in the world.”
Most of the audience members consisted of De Anza students completing extra credit assignments and Bay Area residents looking to hear live music, but the overall reaction from the audience was positive.
John Gonzalez, 18, music major, attended the event to listen to classical music and also support the cause of the benefit concert.
Gonzalez noted, “I want to further extend [my passion in music] and use that as a way of revenue, so I’m doing something that I love. I want to understand [music] completely.”
Gonzalez said he has high goals for his music education.
“I want to transfer to San Jose State and see if I can get a bachelor’s or doctorate in music for just composition,” he said. “But if I do get the scholarship I’ll probably put it towards more education.”
Other Bay Area residents also came out to the benefit concert in support of the scholarship fund and to hear classical music. Bruce and Connie Mitchell came to the event searching for entertainment on a Friday night.
“It’s [the music program] a nice program, and I’m glad to see people [music students] pursuing their interests,” Bruce Mitchell said.
Violinist Joseph Gold also offered advice to music students looking to pursue a career in music.
“Always be prepared. Be prepared to know a number of pieces you know you can play at a moment’s notice, and accept every engagement,” said Gold. “Don’t turn anything down.”
(Lydia Tuan/LA VOZ WEEKLY)
