A 19-year-old, up-and-coming violinist will be performing a solo piece at the Nanaimo Chamber Orchestra’s (NCO) third and final concert of the season, June Reverie, taking place Sunday, June 10 at St. Edmunds Anglican Church in Parksville.
The concert will include the music of Corelli, Mozart, Holst, Warlock, and will feature soloist Jessica d’Oliveira playing Joseph Haydn’s Violin Concerto in G Major.
The June concert always features as soloist, the winner of the NCO’s annual Young Musician’s Concerto Competition — and this year’s winner admitted she is both excited and nervous to be performing such a big piece.
“I did a small solo last year but it was only a movement of the concerto. This one has three movements and I am playing all of them this time. Everyone’s eyes and ears will be on me … I do feel some pressure,” she confessed.
D’Oliveira is a graduate of Wellington Secondary School and has studied violin for many years with Leslie Krull.
She has gained experience through the mentoring program of the NCO and holds a scholarship for this season and will audition for a place in the Vancouver Youth Orchestra as part of her plan to relocate in Vancouver next season.
In Vancouver, she will be studying with Nancy DiNovo from the University of British Columbia’s (UBC) violin faculty.
Eventually d’Oliveira plans to get her music degree at either UBC or UVic.
She said she along with her two brothers are quite musical, her parents … not so much, but she agreed they are her biggest fans.
“They come to every single performance,” she said.
Her proud parents generously paid for her pricey violin which d’Oliveira declared is her baby.
“When I first started looking for a violin it was the first one I tried and I fell in love with it.”
She said while most violinists play on a full size violin, hers is slightly smaller and makes it easy for her small hands.
The NCO, under Karl Rainer’s leadership has a lively and emotional program planned for Sunday evening.
It includes Corelli’s Concerto 11, Op. 6, Mozart’s Divertimento No. 2, Holst’s Brook Green Suite, and a wonderful piece by Warlock.
The Serenade for Strings, dedicated to Frederick Delius on the occasion of his 60th Birthday was an acknowledgement of the debt Warlock owed to the older composer, and the culmination of almost 12 years of friendship.
The NCO performances are scheduled for June 9 at 7:30 p.m. at Brechin United Church and June 10 at 7:30 p.m. at St. Edmunds Anglican Church in Parksville.
Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for students and under 12 free at the Port Theatre Box Office or at the door.