By Marilyn Buyar
An appreciative audience was treated to a unique performance by Dr. Curtis Wolfe’s String Orchestra at Martin Exeter Hall on May 25.
Most of the 17 violinists, violists and cellists are current students of Dr. Wolfe. They were joined by three former students from Kelowna.
The afternoon concert was a demonstration of the Suzuki approach to musical learning. Just as a child learns to speak before learning to read, learning music by ear is emphasized over reading musical notation in early Suzuki lessons.
The concert opened with a solo performance by Dr. Wolfe of Vivaldi’s Concerto in A Minor.
He was then joined by the advanced students playing pieces such as the Third Movement of the Seitz Concerto in G Major, and Humoresque by Dvorak.
As the afternoon unfolded, younger students joined the orchestra onstage as the ensemble progressed through the intermediate and then beginning repertoire.
The grand finale was an arrangement of variations by Shinichi Suzuki based on Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.
Jasmine Kreschuk provided piano accompaniment for the orchestra.
