Galen Kusic, Editor

Vallejo Symphony’s second concert of the season, “Iconoclast” will feature violinist Amalia Hall, conducted by Marc Taddei. Hall is the concertmaster of Orchestra Wellington in New Zealand, the youngest in the orchestra’s history. The concerts will take place on Sat. Feb. 29 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, March 1 at 3 p.m. at the Empress Theatre in Vallejo.

Hall first attempted to play violin when she was two and a half by picking up her siblings’ violins, but started lessons through the Suzuki Method when she was just three years old. She knew from an early age that being a violinist was her calling.

“I could never imagine any other possible path in life,” she said.

To be chosen as the concertmaster of Orchestra Wellington was a huge honor for Hall, and a big step into a career commitment sooner than she expected.

“As a musician, it’s fantastic to freelance and be available to take whatever opportunities come along, but holding a position with an orchestra means that there is continuity and stability,” she said. “It’s great to keep discovering more about leadership and working with my colleagues to get the best results for the performances.”

Hall studied in Philadelphia for four years at the renowned Curtis Institute of Music. During that time she performed at festivals in the US, but since graduating has not been back to perform. It will be her first time performing in Calif. and she hopes to return many times in the future.

Hall travels the world for music festivals and has performed with I Virtuosi Italiani, Munich Chamber Orchestra, NDR Radiophilharmonie, Brno Philharmonic Orchestra, Amadeus Polish Radio Chamber Orchestra, the State Philharmonic of Sibiu, Filharmonica Marchigiana, the Mexico State Symphony Orchestra and Orquesta Filharmonía in Mexico among many others.

Hall records on Bridge Records and plays with a Vincenzo Rugeri violin, over 325 years old. It is privately owned and on loan from benefactors. She came by the violin thanks to Florian Leonhardt Fine Violins in London.

“I feel extraordinarily fortunate to be currently playing on this gorgeous Rugeri violin,” she said. “It is in amazing condition.”

She carries it with her wherever she goes and never leaves it unattended. The instrument is ideally maintained with little temperature change, but she notes that can be difficult with frequent traveling.

“There are some truly fantastic modern instruments being made these days and they can stand as equals to old instruments in blind tests, but some of the older instruments have a refinement of sound which can only be obtained with age,” said Hall.

For classical music fans, Hall explains a real treat is in store for those that get to experience this live orchestral concert.

“There’s always something new to discover and understand, the more you listen to music. The Prokofiev concerto is in his typical compositional language, full of contrast, childlike wonder and dramatic orchestration,” said Hall. “The first movement opens with a dark G minor theme and quickly falls into scurrying semi-quaver passages and theatrical flashes of color. It has the most unbelievably beautiful slow movement, which uses the full range of the violin up to the highest register, always very vocal and singing in nature despite Prokofiev’s typical angular steps through the melodies. This is followed by a rollicking ride in the third movement which wraps up the earthy, rhythmic coda into a final frenzy. It’s heaps of fun to play and I’m so glad we will be performing it twice.”

Hall’s preparation for these performances entails re-familiarizing herself with the Prokofiev Violin Concerto No. 2, which she actually played for her audition at Curtis, so the piece is special to her.

“The challenge of coming back to an old piece is making sure that it’s fresh every time, and with a newer, deeper perspective of the piece,” she said. “Plus, making sure that any old habits don’t arise in the context of an ‘old’ piece, even if those habits have diminished with time.”

Hall’s biggest role models are her parents, who have encouraged her every step of the way. Growing up, her sister Lara was always a musical inspiration, as Amalia would often try to copy her when practicing.

“I was very fortunate to grow up in a musical household, with music always being played and feeding my growth as a musician,” she said.

Her teachers at Curtis were huge musical inspirations, and she often thinks of the concepts they taught her. She also finds inspiration in listening to old recordings from last century of violinists such as Heifetz, Oistrakh, Kreisler, as well as singers and other instrumentalists, and different genres such as jazz or opera.

“If you aren’t a classical music fan yet – try something new and come along to the concert, I’m sure you’ll love it!” said Hall. “Music is universally accessible and can be a transformative escape, therapy, hobby, passion, and complete joy to everyone.”

Tickets are available at www.empresstheatre.org or at www.vallejosymphony.org.