Young musician shares gift

Fourteen-year-old cellist, pianist and vocalist Amos Chon offers a benefit recital at 7:30 p.m. on May 21 at the First Presbyterian Church, 540 S. Main Street in Kalispell.

Through his work with music instructors Janet Haarvig, Kay Lund and Sarah Hok, Chon has become a serious, passionate music student who possesses an incredible work ethic and displays great maturity.

He has generously shared his musical talents as cellist, pianist and vocalist at churches, community gatherings and even for individual elderly "shut-ins." He and his sister, Jessica, perform monthly at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.

Chon has invited other outstanding young musicians, ages 10 to 16, from the Flathead to join in the recital. Chon and his friends will be performing works of Beethoven, Hayden, and Vivaldi. The performers will include a pair of trios: first the Cadenza Ensemble, made up of Chon on cello, and Jessica Chon and Zach Mattson on violin; and second trio includes Chon on cello, Amelia Thornton on violin and Jordan Neiman at the piano.

Chon was introduced to the cello at age 6, and by age 8 had earned a place in the Glacier Youth Orchestra. In 2000, at age 10, he won the Glacier Youth Orchestra Scholarship. He was selected as solo cellist to accompany a special performance of the Flathead High School Choir.

Other honors for Chon have included:

. The $500 Instrumental Soloist Award and a share of the Best Ensemble Award at the Stillwater Music Festival at Stillwater Christian School, April 2004;

. Strings International Music Camp, summer 2004 on the Bryn Mawr College Campus in Pensylvania;

. Master Class with David Ying, Eastman School of Music, August 2004;

. All-state Orchestra honors at Great Falls in October 2004;

. Master Class with Amit Peled at Montana State University, October 2004;

. Flathead Lutheran Bible Camp's 2004 Christmas CD, "Light in the Darkness; Advent and Christmas;" and

. All Northwest Honors Orchestra in Seattle in February 2005.

The concert is free, and donations are welcome. All money collected will be equally divided between two charities: the People for Peru Orphanage, at Iquitos, Peru; and an expansion project at Kalispell Community Center, which provides free clothing and household items for upwards of 80 families weekly.