NYC violinist coming to area

Where do melodies come from?
Three different answers to that question will be offered in the New Sussex Symphony's Spring concert May 18.
“This program has a lot of variety in it, so there's something for everybody. It's three pieces united around a theme about the origin of melodies,” said Music Director Jordan Brown.
The concert features Kinga Augustyn, a Polish-born concert violinist now based in New York City, playing a gentle tone poem by English composer Ralph Vaughn Williams called “The Lark Ascending.” The work was originally composed for violin and piano, but the composer later adapted it for full orchestra. In it, Vaughn Williams tries to capture not only the sound of the lark, but the bird's movements as well.
“The violin portrays the bird, but more than its song, the violin imitates the bird's flight – its ascent and descent through the air,” said Brown, “so melody somehow comes from nature and from movement.”
Calling the piece “pure poetry,” Brown said it was a favorite of both his and the soloist's.
“Kinga is an outstanding professional violin soloist. She's recorded on some prominent classical CD labels, and she was a pupil of the great Juilliard teacher Dorothy DeLay, so she's sharing something really special with us,” he said.
The other two works on the program find their muse in history as well as travel. Richard Wagner's prelude to his opera “Die Meistersinger” examines whether songwriters should favor tradition over inspiration, while Antonin Dvorak's famous symphony, “From the New World,” offers a Czech's musical impression of 19th Century America. The concert is the final offering in the orchestra's 2018-2019 season. It will be Saturday, May 18, 7:30 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church at 111 Ryerson Avenue in Newton.
Augustyn has gained worldwide recognition through her performances as a concerto soloist, recitalist and chamber musician. She has been described as “an adventurous performer valuable to New York’s scene” (NY Concert Review), “stylish and vibrant…playing with verve and superb control” (The Strad Magazine), and “beyond amazing, one hell of a violinist!” (The Fanfare Magazine). Her repertoire ranges from early baroque, which she sometimes performs on a baroque violin, to modern, oftentimes written especially for her. She is known for unique programming of unaccompanied solo violin recitals, and for her advocacy for quality, lesser-known works.
Augustyn’s most recent recording of world premieres by the Polish composer Romuald Twardowski has just been released on Naxos. Performed with the Torun Symphony Orchestra and maestro Mariusz Smolij, the project was initiated by Dr. Augustyn, who throughout the years has proven her commitment to increasing awareness of music by Polish composers.
She began her music studies at the age of seven in her native Poland. Musically she was also influenced by her mother, soprano Mariola Augustyn. She continued her musical education at The Juilliard School with Dorothy DeLay, Cho-Liang Lin, and Naoko Tanaka, and earned there both the Bachelor and the Master degrees. She plays on an early 18th century violin made by Antonio Zanotti, generously on loan to her from a private collector. To read a full biography, please visit www.kingaaugustyn.com/
Ticket prices are $15 for adults, $10 for seniors and students. Children five years old and under are admitted free of charge. Although tickets may be purchased at the door, tickets are also available at the Bill Wright School of Music (50 Woodport Road in Sparta) and the Sussex County Arts and Heritage Council (133 Spring Street in Newton)
Additional funding for the concert has been made available by the NJ State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, through the State/County Partnership Block Grant Program, as administered by the Sussex County Arts and Heritage Council.
To learn more about how members of the community can support the New Sussex Symphony and their youth Legacy Fund Scholarship, or to learn more about performances and community involvement, contact Melinda McCoy-Miller at 973-579-6465 or e-mail at nssnj@ptd.net, or visit www.newsussexsymphony.org.