Playing since the age of 4, internationally renowned violinist and Berlin Philharmonic Concertmaster Noah Bendix-Balgley will be joining the BG Philharmonia on Monday.
After visiting BG in 2015, Bendix-Balgley will be returning to perform with students during a short break from the Berlin orchestra’s North American tour.
Beginning at 8pm in Kobacker Hall in the Moore Musical Arts Center, the program will be featuring two well-known pieces by Tchaikovsky. A pre-concert session about the music of Tchaikovsky will also be held at 7:15pm in Bryan Recital Hall for those interested in learning more.
As first year graduate students in the College of Musical Arts, Co-Concert Master Brandi Main and Principal Violinist Kathryn Kibbe previewed the upcoming performance of Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5 and Violin Concerto as well as their experiences preparing with the Philharmonia.
It has been an intense semester for the Philharmonia but in light of that, Kibbe said this performance will be enjoyable for both performers and audience members alike.
Both she and Main said this concert in particular will be a very special treat even if some audience members have never attended a prior BG Philharmonia concert. Kibbe described Tchaikovsky’s music as easy to follow with likeable melodies that reoccur throughout the pieces. With a typical orchestral concert lasting about one to two hours, she said this concert will be enjoyable for all because of the listenability of the music.
“Tchaikovsky is a composer we like to play because there is just so much emotion packed into it. It’s not necessarily hard music that takes months to practice…but I love playing (his) music because it is such a joy to play.” Kibbe said.
Main also said this music is more accessible to listeners than some other romantic era music. She said it is easy for any audience to really feel and connect with the pieces throughout the performance.
Even though the BG Philharmonia is not a professional orchestra, both Kibbe and Main feel it is a great experience for students to be able to hear this music live. Kibbe encouraged students to support the arts which she believes are the fundamental foundations of music which we listen to today.
“It’s such a rewarding experience when we put all of this work into pieces to have people come and listen to it and support us,” Main said.
Additionally Kibbie said, “It’s a privilege for students today to be able to listen to these brilliant composers who put the notes together to make this music. And then to see performers who love what they do playing their hearts out on stage is something that we should appreciate.”
For this special event, BGSU students are eligible for a free ticket to the concert. They can claim their ticket by bringing their BG I.D. and a non-perishable food item to the BGSU Arts Box Office. Additional tickets can be purchased at the box office or online at www.bgsu.edu/musicevents.
