Bigfork teen violinist sets off to study in Paris this summer

By Linda Collins

Special to the Daily Inter Lake

Violinist Lauren Welch, a 14-year-old Bigfork native, was recently accepted to attend a two-week summer course at the world-renowned Paris Conservatory of Music in France. Together with 20 other students from Japan, Australia, France, the Czech Republic and other countries, Welch will fly to Paris July 30 for an intensive two-week course of study. Welch will perform in master classes for Jérôme Pernoo, a professor at the Paris Conservatory and international performer who has played at Carnegie Hall in New York, the Berlin Philharmonic, the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées in Paris, and the Seoul Art Center.

Welch was discovered five years ago by Wai Mizutani, the well-known director of music at Flathead Valley Community College. “I was playing the organ at the Catholic church in Bigfork,” Mitzutani said, “and I noticed Lauren in the congregation. God told me that I must teach Lauren to learn to play the violin, and when God speaks, I know that I had better listen.” Mitzutani has been mentoring Welch ever since.

She now performs at her church and for a number of charity fundraisers. In April she gave a concert where $40,000 was raised for scholarships for Catholic school students, as well as for new asphalt for the St. Matthew's Church parking lot. Welch also raised $22,000 for homeless teens in the Flathead Valley.

In a recent interview Welch said, “One of the main reasons that I play is because I can make other people smile. Also, this is one of my main forms of prayer.

“I feel fortunate to have this opportunity to learn from two world renowned musicians, violinist Wai Mitzutani and mentor Jérôme Pernoo. I feel that classical music has lost much of its popularity and regard, and I would like to bring it back to life. Once you learn about the classical composers and why each piece of music was written, it makes the music become very powerful and meaningful.”

As she reflected on the pandemic, she said, “I know that this year has been very hard for many people, but I looked at it as an opportunity to learn musically. I was able to achieve a lot with my music; I learned several concertos, including the Tchaikovsky violin concerto, and recorded two CDs.”

Her studies at the Paris Conservatory do come with a steep price tag. The price of tuition, ground transportation, airline tickets, housing and food has considerably increased during the COVID-19 era. Her family, patrons and church community have organized a benefit concert for her in order to help offset her Paris expenses.

Welch will give a fundraising concert at 7 p.m. Friday, July 23, at St. John Catholic Church, 195 Coverdell Road, Bigfork. Everyone is welcome to come and all contributions will be gratefully accepted. Also performing will be collaborative pianist Natilee Radosevich.