Master violinist critiques students
The sound of music filled the Bliss Centre for the Performing Arts on Wednesday as Belizean students got a rare visit from a visiting professor of violin music. News Five was invited to listen–and learn–from the master himself.
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
Dr. Simon Shiao has been winning international competitions since he was only twelve-years-old. It?s a success story all young music students hope to accomplish, and one this world renowned violinist is helping them to achieve. Shiao has taken a short break from teaching a violin course at the University of North Florida to come to Belize to conduct the second edition of the Masters Concert Series at the Bliss Centre for the Performing Arts.
William Neal, Director, ICA
?The first one went much better than we anticipated considering that there were other some classical, musical performances on the same day. This is the only second one so it?s hard for us to gauge just how popular it has been. But what we are hoping is that this is our growing, our opening year, it?s teething pains or whatever we have to go through to really put it on a quarterly basis to make sure that it happens for at least four times a year we have a real world class musician coming down to share their talents with the Belizean students and the Belizean public.?
Twenty-five students from all different age groups are enrolled in the programme that is designed to improve their skills in string instruments.
Natasha Young, Violin Student
?It takes a lot of dedication and hard work. There is nothing like practising. Practice is the most important thing, but also you must do it from the heart, you must also love what you are doing to have that discipline to want to practise it everyday.?
Accompanying Dr. Shiao is one of his students, twenty-one year old Natasha Young. Young is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in music at U.N.F. as well as a teaching degree she hopes to utilize to help other Belizean students.
Natasha Young
?I have been studying with him for two years now and I have seen great improvements of my skills. I have learned a lot from him, so I think he has a lot to offer to these children today, and hopefully we will continuously gain his help throughout the years to come.?
Dr. Shiao explains that while the sessions are important, it is really the love and passion for the music that helped him achieve his goal.
Dr. Simon Shiao, Violin Teacher, U.N.F.
?I think if you always keep on admiring the music of Beethoven and Bach, that will sort of drive you towards practicing everyday, working towards fine-tuning the fine arts. And I think that?s what drives me.?
The classes opened on Wednesday and will culminate with a concert on Saturday. Jacqueline Woods for News Five.
The concert gets underway at 7:30 Saturday night. Tickets can be purchased at the Bliss Centre for the Performing Arts.
