THE NEXT HILARY HAHN? Two years ago, we were having a rehearsal of the Chicago Philharmonic at Northwestern University. Following the rehearsal our Concertmaster, David Perry, came up to me and asked if I had a few minutes. He then explained that he had a student who was about to rehearse next door with the Midwest Young Artists Orchestra. (I should mention that David is one of the country’s finest violinists.
He is first violin in the famed Pro Arte Quartet; is concertmaster of the Aspen Music Festival; and appears regularly with Orpheus Chamber Orchestra.) His student was one of the winners of the MYA concerto competition and would be appearing in concert with them the next day at Pick-Staiger.
David thought that this young high school student was someone I should hear. We stepped into the concert hall and immediately came upon his student at the back of the auditorium. She was waiting for one of her colleagues, who was to appear on the same program, as he finished rehearsing onstage with the orchestra. David introduced me; she was a cute and quite shy fourteen year-old who was obviously nervous as she awaited her turn to rehearse. David and I listened to the young man who was playing while his student quietly paced back and forth silently fingering a few passages.
Within a few moments it was her turn. The conductor motioned to her and she strode onto the stage. The orchestra began the Sibelius Violin Concerto and this young lady seemed to be transformed. As she listened to the orchestra from her solo position standing next to the conductor, a calm, collected demeanor came over her.
She raised the violin and began to play.From the first note it was obvious that this was a huge talent. She didn’t just play the notes, she played the music, and she did it with such a sense of understanding and passionate commitment. This shy youngster I had been standing next to a few moments before now commanded the stage, physically and musically. Her lush gorgeous tone soared out over the orchestra.
David and I listened enthralled as she completed the first movement. We then stepped out into the lobby, and I asked David where this kind of talent and ability comes from. He told me she had an older brother who had just won the concerto competition at Juilliard on violin, suggesting that she had something of a role model.
However, she was not some carbon copy. Her poise and presence seemed to radiate “star in the making.” I asked David when we should think about asking her to appear with the Chicago Philharmonic. “I would give her another two years,” he said. “She still has a few things she is working on.”
We’ll, it is now two years later. David says she is ready, and I can’t wait.She will be appearing with the Chicago Philharmonic on Sunday, November 12, at 7:00 PM at Pick Staiger Hall on Northwestern’s Evanston campus. She will be playing the Sibelius concerto on a program that includes the Brahms Second Symphony with Hungarian conductor András Déak. By the way, her name is Krista Stewart.
You might want to write that down so you can remember when you first heard it. I think you will be hearing it a lot more of her in the near future. And while you’re at it, why not make reservations to hear her Chicago debut with a professional orchestra, Sunday, Nov. 12? You’ll be glad you did.
Written By James Berkenstock, President, The Chicago Philharmonic
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