Young Polson musician drawn to sound of violin
ZIAO CHEN, 9, remains focused while practicing a challenging concert piece at Flathead Valley Community College Nov. 6, 2023. (Hilary Matheson/Daily Inter Lake)
ZIAO CHEN, 9, rehearses with instructor and performer, Wai Mizutani, at Flathead Valley Community College on Nov. 6, 2023. The pair will perform a Christmas concert together along with Ziao’s father, Xiao Long Chen, brother, Zichong, 16, and pianist Clementa Cazan German, at the Wachholz College Center at 7 p.m. Dec. 16. (Hilary Matheson/Daily Inter Lake)
ZIAO CHEN, 9, practices playing the violin, his favorite instrument, at Flathead Valley Community College Nov. 6, 2023. (Hilary Matheson/Daily Inter Lake)
ZIAO CHEN, 9, rehearses with instructor and performer, Wai Mizutani, at Flathead Valley Community College on Nov. 6, 2023. The pair will perform a Christmas concert together along with Ziao’s father, Xiao Long Chen, brother, Zichong, 16, and pianist Clementa Cazan German, at the Wachholz College Center at 7 p.m. Dec. 16. (Hilary Matheson/Daily Inter Lake)
Once 9-year-old Ziao Chen places his violin on his shoulder and puts bow to string, his calm expression transforms into one of intensity. The brightness of the violin’s tone is another language that speaks loudly for the soft-spoken Polson resident.
The youngster, whose jaw doesn’t quite yet reach the chin rest on his violin, recently gave his first performance at McClaren Hall in the Wachholz College Center alongside his instructor, and godparent, Wai Mizutani.
Unafraid to tackle a highly challenging piece, he performed “Caprice No. 24” by Niccolo Paganini, capped by an encore piece — Belgian composer Henri Vieuxtemps’ variation on “Yankee Doodle.”
Support Local News
You have read all of your free articles this month. Select a plan below to start your subscription today.
Already a subscriber? Login
Daily Inter Lake - everything
Print delivery, e-edition and unlimited website access
- $26.24 per month
Daily Inter Lake - unlimited website access
- $9.95 per month