Pasadena Violinist to Coach Kids, then Perform with Symphony
Jennifer Frautschi, a Pasadena native, performs with Pasadena Symphony May 15
Much has been made over the last five years or so that an alumna of the Pasadena Youth Symphony Orchestra has gone on to a burgeoning concert career as a solo violinist. Jennifer Frautschi, now a recognized violinist, returns this week to perform with the Pasadena Symphony at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium on Saturday night and to be in the spotlight as the featured guest at a special Master class at The Crawford Family Forum in Pasadena on Thursday night. The Crawford Family Forum is a town hall concept connected to Southern California Public Radio and KPCC.
The Master class will showcase Frautschi in a session that will allow the public to get an inside view of her training and concert experiences. At the class she will hear brief excerpts and solos played by local young violinists after which she will offer coaching tips and instruction. The Master class will be held 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Thursday May 13 at The Crawford Family Forum, 474 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena.
Frautschi will appear with the Pasadena Symphony Orchestra at 8:00 p.m. Saturday, May 15 at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. The program that night is dedicated to the music of Beethoven and she will perform the Beethoven Violin Concerto in D-major. Other music on the program will be the “Coriolan” Overture and the famed Symphony No. 5 in C-minor. Jennifer Frautschi has taken a clever route on her way to becoming one of America’s finest violinists. She left the confines of our valley to head east for her education at Harvard, New England Conservatory of Music and at Julliard. Locally, she studied at the Colburn School of Performing Arts and also at USC’s Thornton School of Music. Her career began with performances of well-known concert pieces, but she expanded her repertoire to include not only rare pieces, but relatively contemporary music which has garnered for her both a fine concert-hall reputation and recording opportunities. She has released three solo albums and appears with ensembles on four others.
This is believed to be her third solo appearance with the Pasadena Symphony under conductor Jorge Mester. In January, 2005, she performed the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto which this paper described as full of “zeal, allowing for a warm and ingratiating interpretation.” The slim, beautiful young woman returned in 2007 with a sparkling version of Khachaturian’s Violin Concerto.
The Master class on Thursday, May 13 is being presented in partnership with 89.3 KPCC and the Pasadena Symphony and POPS at the Crawford Family Forum, 474 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena. Admission to this event is free, although seating is limited.
The Pasadena Symphony presents “Bravo Beethoven”, the final concert in its Classics Series, at 8:00 p.m. Saturday, May 15 at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. Ticket prices range from $30 to $80. For information, please call (626) 793-7172.
By Bill Peters
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