“From the Top” host Christopher O’Riley, along with Honolulu Symphony musicians, will this Sunday perform a benefit recital on behalf of symphony musicians.
O’Riley, the voice of the radio program “From the Top,” which showcases young musicians, had been scheduled to perform as a soloist with the Honolulu Symphony in concerts at the end of this month. The concerts have been canceled because of the symphony’s financial problems.
The recital will be held at 4 p.m. in Orvis Auditorium.
O’Riley will be performing solo works by Beethoven and Chopin, and will be joined by a string quartet of Symphony Musicians for the Schumann Piano Quintet in E flat, Op. 44.
The musicians include: Ignace Jang, Violin I (Concertmaster, Honolulu Symphony); Darel Stark, Violin II (Associate Principal, Second Violin, Honolulu Symphony); Mark Butin, Viola (Principal Viola, Honolulu Symphony); and Andrew Eckard, Cello (Associate Principal Cello, Honolulu Symphony).
In a news release, O’Riley said: “It’s a profound honor to join these section leaders in performance on behalf of all of the musicians of the Honolulu Symphony. With the Schumann Quintet, and its magnificent sense of the whole being more than the sum of its parts as our inspiration, we hope to give strength and support to the dedicated and wholly essential community members of the Honolulu Symphony.”
Proceeds from the concert will go to the Symphony musicians’ two support funds, one of which makes interest-free loans available to musicians for emergencies, and the other of which makes funds available to support public performances by Symphony musicians. The two funds are: Honolulu Symphony Musicians (not tax-deductible) and Live Music Awareness – Honolulu Symphony Musicians Fund (tax-deductible). Contributions to either can be sent to Honolulu Symphony Musicians, 949 Kapiolani Boulevard, Honolulu, HI 96814.
“From the Top” will return to Hawaii in January 2010 for two performance tapings for national broadcast on Hawaii Island. The first is scheduled for Jan. 20th at the Kahilu Theatre in Kamuela; the second for Jan. 22 in the William Charles Lunalilo Center of the Kamehameha Schools Hawaii in Kea’au, just north of Hilo. Hawaii Public Radio is presenting both events.
Tickets for this Sunday's recital are available by phone by calling 955-8821 during business hours, or on line at www.chambermusichawaii.com, the Chamber Music Hawaii website. All tickets are $50.
More information about the benefit performance is available through www.chambermusichawaii.com