Former Symphony of the Hills violinist and now international artist Nancy Zhou returns to perform Barber’s Violin Concerto on Aug 26.
When violinist Nancy Zhou returns to Kerrville to perform with Symphony of the Hills on August 26, it will be a homecoming in every sense.
The internationally-acclaimed concert soloist got her earliest experience on the stage of the Cailloux Theater.
“I have very acute memories of the Cailloux Theater,” she said during an interview from San Francisco. “I clearly remember the building, the venue, and how enthusiastic the audiences were.”
While she was only 12 at the time, her playing was many years beyond her age. Nancy Zhou not only was part of the orchestra string section, she performed solos as well as duets with her father, Long Zhou.
“Because my father was concertmaster, I played in the orchestra when I was in my wee teenage years,” she said. “Looking through the roster of musicians for the concert, there are still so many names I recognize. I am excited.”
While Zhou has performed with the great symphonies of the world, including Stockholm, Finland, St. Petersburg, China, and major U.S. cities, she holds a special place in her heart for Symphony of the Hills.
“The personnel is so diverse,” she said. “You have musicians traveling from San Antonio, but also talented students from high schools and colleges. I love how they embrace players of any age group. One of them was me! They were under the great guidance of Dr. Jay Dunnahoo, and now with Dr. Dowdy are still in great hands. It is massively impressive that a townthe size of Kerrville supports this caliber of organization.”
Zhou will perform Samuel Barber’s Violin Concerto, a piece she grew up listening to.
“It is very American, very cinematic, a beautiful piece with emotional outbursts. The last movement is most challenging, but it is going to be quite a lot of fun.”
After a year and a half of limited engagements due to the pandemic, Zhou is eager to resume touring. Her Kerrville performance is the launch of the violinist’s next full season of touring.
It also marks a new season in her life. During her hiatus from the stage, Zhou was able to reevaluate her career and “rechannel her energy” into teaching, something she has always been passionate about but unable to find the time to pursue. She also worked on several recording projects, including a benefit for the World Health Organization and a tribute to Isaac Stern.
“In that respect, I’m grateful COVID happened,” she said. “Not that it was a good thing, but it allowed me to self-evaluate my career and more importantly my life. I found it rekindled my passion for what I do and discover that teaching is something I don’t ever want to give up.”
The rest of the music program includes William Grant Still’s Poem for orchestra, followed by Schubert’s Unfinished Symphony, performed during the Symphony’s first season 20 years ago.
For current Conductor and Musical Director Dr. Eugene Dowdy, the Homecoming concert is symbolic of making it through “a tough year.”
“We managed to present three Symphony concerts during the pandemic, and we’ve got Nancy Zhou coming back for her rescheduled concert,” Dowdy said. “We are humble and grateful we’ve been able to do this. What a great orchestra. What a great community, a great theater, and great patrons. Everybody has a role to make all this happen.”
Nancy Zhou echoes that sentiment that it takes a community to keep live classical music playing.
“There is nothing like a live event, getting out of your comfort zone and being present with live music,” she said. “It is really cleansing, a way to take care of yourself. If you are part of a community; you have to respond to serve it. Hopefully it will be a good concert, and people will resonate with what we are presenting. I am really looking forward to this concert.”
Details:
Nancy Zhou will perform Samuel Barber’s Violin Concerto, Op. 14, for the Symphony of the Hills concert A Homecoming, on Thursday, August 26. Concert will begin at 7:30 p.m., with a Wine Reception at 6:30 p.m.
Tickets can be purchased by visiting www.symphonyofthehills.org, or by calling (830) 792-7469. Tickets can also be purchased through the Cailloux Theater web site: caillouxperformingarts.com.
This concert is sponsored by Kerr County Abstract & Title, and RE/MAX Kerrville
