Meet Rieko Tsuchida
Rieko Tsuchida knows where she’s going and knows how to get there — to the stage as a concert pianist, that is. A recent victory at the Eastman Young Artist International Piano Competition offered her the chance to perform the Piano Concerto No. 1 by Peter Tchaikovsky with the Rochester Philharmonic last summer. And, on March 20 she’ll recap the concerto with the California Youth Symphony under the direction of Maestro Leo Eylar.
“I just love to perform,” says Rieko. “This summer was a big breakthrough for me, playing in the competition, and attending the International Holland Music Sessions in the Netherlands. There, I got to work with world-class teachers and perform concerts. It opened my eyes to what I could be doing in the future and what I need to do to become a professional concert artist.”
And for Rieko, that means practicing a lot in addition to carrying a full load as a junior at Tamalpais High School in Mill Valley. A long day at school, where European History and writing are her favorite subjects, is followed by hours of homework, and then her nightly two to three hours of practicing, as well as “making up” more hours on the weekends. Her bedtime: 1 a.m. On the weekends she rehearses with her Clarinet Trio at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and with the San Francisco Youth Symphony as their principal pianist. Rieko has her piano lessons with teacher John McCarthy on Sundays and practices the rest of the day for the international competitions and festivals that she’ll take part in this summer and fall.
“I’m really motivated to practice,” says Rieko. “I’m committed to being a soloist. But I also think people my age could be interested in classical music and I’d like to broaden that audience. I put together my own benefit concerts, for the Haiti earthquake disaster for example, and I’m in the musical community service club at school.” Her busy life doesn’t leave much time for hobbies, but Rieko does like fashion and cooking although she says, “mother tries to keep me away from the knives!”
Come hear Rieko with the California Youth Symphony on March 20. (See event info here.)
S.F. Symphony Pastoral Family Concert
The San Francisco Symphony continues their Music for Families series on March 19, with a child-friendly exploration of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6, also known as the Pastoral Symphony. Sara Vellve and her husband, San Francisco parents of 6th grader Jackson, have been season ticket holders for five years. She loves how the program intersperses each movement with engaging stories about the musical themes, the roles of each of the orchestral instruments, and the emotion the music is trying to evoke. “Breaking up the movements keeps the sections short enough to peak a child’s interest and give them a broad view of the Symphony. It keeps their attention, and exposes them to different musical styles as well.” The Vellve family has changed seats each year, which gives them a variety of vantage points.
The Vellves enjoy the informative booklet they receive from SFS beforehand and read it cover to cover. They also appreciate the casual atmosphere. “It’s a mixed bag,” says Sarah. “Kids come in jeans, some girls dress up like princesses, other kids come in soccer and baseball uniforms. They don’t have to be embarrassed to be kids, and I think many adults attend because it’s more casual and laid back. Everyone feels comfortable.”
Launched in 1993-1994, Music for Families concerts are geared for ages 7 and up. Tickets for children age 17 and under are half-price. View the Web site for more details.
Winner of the Black History Month Essay Contest
In February, SFCV invited kids to submit an essay on a favorite African American musician or composer. Congratulations to our winner, Michelle Wan, age 10 from Jefferson Elementary School in San Francisco!
By Michelle Wan
On June 30, 1917, an outstanding star was born. A dancer, actress, singer and a musician, Lena Horne was an incredible and spectacular African American woman. Horne started dancing when she went home at age 16 to tend her ill mother. She went to dance at the Cotton Club in Harlem, New York. In two years, she was already working with entertainers such as Cab Calloway and soon had her own shows. In 1935, she joined the Noble Sissle Orchestra under her full name, Helena Horne. She was soon discovered by the producer John Hammond and was invited to perform a wonderful solo show at Carnegie Hall in New York City. In 1943, Horne moved away from her hometown to Los Angeles, where she performed in movies such as, Cabin In The Sky (1943), Meet Me In Las Vegas (1956), and The Wiz (1978). Her role in Stormy Weather (1943), included her rendition of the title song, which became her fabulous trademark.An awesome charismatic entertainer, Horne was one of the most popular singers of her time. One of her albums, Lena Horne at the Waldorf-Astoria (1957), was a longtime best seller. Her first feature on Broadway in the musical, Jamaica (1957) won her a New York Drama Critics' Poll Award in 1958. Even though she was an entertainer, she was noted for her work with civil rights and political organizations. As an actress, she refused to play roles that stereotyped African American women. Her one-woman show Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music (1981) got many awards, including a Drama Critics' Circle Award and a special achievement Tony Award. In 1984, she received a Kennedy Center Honor for lifetime contribution to the arts and in 1989 a Grammy Award for lifetime achievement. Sadly, Horne passed away on May 9, 2010. We will always remember the great and talented Lena Horne.