BRENDA GOUGH
News Contributor
There were several standing ovations from an appreciative audience at the Qualicum Beach Civic Centre for violin virtuosos Timothy and Nikki Chooi accompanied by the Victoria Symphony Orchestra March 24.
The Chooi brothers grew up in Victoria and honed their skills at the Victoria Conservatory of Music.
Nikki is currently pursuing his Masters Degree at New York City's prestigious Julliard School and Timothy attends the Curtis Institute of Music.
The globally acclaimed musicians have performed in concert halls around the world and after their performances in Qualicum Beach they have proved why they are rising stars.
Playing their multi-million dollar instruments, a Stradivarius and a 1729 Guaneri del Gesu on loan from the Canada Council of the Arts Instrument Bank, they performed together in three Bach violin masterpieces under the baton of conductor Timothy Vernon.
Vernon told the crowd afterwards that the instruments alone were worth more than the entire budget of the Victoria Symphony Orchestra.
Nikki and Timothy performed solo pieces in the second half of the show and then surprised the audience with an unscheduled duet.
With commanding authority they presented the Allegro from Sonata for Two Violins by Russian composer Sergie Prokofiev.
The Honourable Judith Guichon, OBC Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia was a guest at the concert and told the full house how thrilled she was to experience such an amazing musical evening.
She said her visit to Qualicum Beach included being awakened in the early morning hours by a symphony of sea lions and shore birds feasting on the herring spawn. Guichon acknowledged how lucky we are to live in such a beautiful region.