Symphony finds quick replacement for guest artist
The show must go on — it's a cliche for a reason.
The concerts Glacier Symphony scheduled for this weekend will go on as planned despite a last-minute cancellation by the show's guest artist.
Music director John Zoltek received word last weekend that Japanese violinist Mayuko Kamio, the guest artist for Glacier Symphony's "Violin Virtuoso and Beethoven" concerts Saturday and Sunday, would be unable to attend.
She had to cancel her engagement "because of unforeseen circumstances beyond her control," according to a press release from the symphony.
Kamio had been scheduled to perform Tchaikovsky's "Violin Concerto in D Minor," a piece she performed to win the gold medal in the 2007 International Tchaikovsky Competition.
"Needless to say, I was mildly shocked to hear this news," Zoltek said. "In my 15 years as music director, a last-minute cancellation of a guest artist so close to a concert weekend has never happened."
Zoltek immediately started looking for a suitable replacement, no easy task with less than one week's notice.
"After a couple of possible artists were recommended, I decided to contact the wonderful young violinist Nigel Armstrong, who had performed with [Glacier Symphony and Chorale] during last summer's Festival Amadeus event," he said.
"He did such an amazing job during the festival and was such a congenial young man that for me, the substitute decision was clear."
Armstrong is no stranger to Tchaikovsky; like Kamio, he is an International Tchaikovsky Competition performer. He reached the finals in that event last summer. He has also appeared as a guest soloist with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and is currently studying at the Curtis Institute in Philadelphia.
According to the symphony, Armstrong was "delighted to be invited" to perform in the Flathead Valley.
"At age 21, Nigel is already a brilliant and engaging violinist with all the technique, passion and stage presence that makes for a world-class soloist," Zoltek said. "I have no doubt that he will be fantastic this weekend and will wow the audience."
Tickets are still available for this weekend's shows, which take place at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Whitefish Performing Arts Center and 3 p.m. Sunday in the Flathead High School performance hall.
In addition to Armstrong's solo, the concert will feature a performance of "Rivers Rushing Forward," a piece the symphony commissioned from Canadian composer Mark Armanini. The show will conclude with Beethoven's "Symphony No. 7 in A Major."
Tickets range from $18 to $32 for the Whitefish show and from $10 to $32 in Kalispell. All youths through grade 12 will be admitted for free.
Call 257-3241 or visit www.gscmusic.org to purchase tickets or reserve youth seats. Tickets will also be available at the door.
Fifth- and sixth-graders and all local home-school students are invited to a special Wild About Music recital by Armstrong at 10 a.m. Friday in the Flathead High performance hall. Call 257-3241 to reserve a seat for the concert.