SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — An appreciative Schuylkill County audience rose to its feet Sunday, showering chamber musicians with admiration and offering violinist Dana Weiderhold a warm “homecoming.”
The Gabriel Chamber Ensemble concert featured Weiderhold, a Minersville native, on violin, along with guest artist Xun Pan on piano. About 140 people attended the nearly two-hour show held at Jerusalem Lutheran Church in Schuylkill Haven. Gabriel Chamber board member Kate Potter welcomed the crowd.
In the GCE’s 26th season, which is focused on “Talented Young Musicians,” the ensemble includes Artistic Director Simon Maurer on violin; Executive Director Agnes Maurer on viola; and Gerall Hieser on cello.
“This has been the best one by far,” Weiderhold, 32, said during a reception following Sunday’s performance.
“My grandfather’s here with me today and so are my parents,” Weiderhold said, as she received a congratulatory hug from her grandfather, John Sternick, Primrose. She’s the daughter of Dan and Joan Weiderhold, also of Minersville.
Weiderhold studied under Simon Maurer. Simon Maurer told the audience what he remembered of “Little Dana” and said it’s wonderful to be performing with her again.
“Every student in some way is a teacher’s teacher,” he said. “Everyone has their individuality and that’s true for Dana. She’s taught me a lot. I’m really happy that she’s made it in the world of music.”
Several people attending Sunday’s performance said they were subscribers to the concert series. Classical music fans were treated to “String Quartet No. 4, Op. 76, Sunrise,” by Joseph Haydn; “Tzigane for Violin and Piano,” by Maurice Ravel; and “Piano Quintet in F minor, Op. 34,” by Johannes Brahms.
“This is a fabulous musical opportunity in Schuylkill County and is one of the highlights of the year,” Allen Brennan, Pottsville, said. He and his wife, Pat Brennan, have been subscribers for about five years, he said.
“They’re all so talented,” Pat Brennan said. “I’d like to see more young people here. Some of them may have never heard chamber music before.”
Schuylkill County Commissioner Gary J. Hess said he’s “hooked” and tries to attend most of the ensemble’s concerts.
“From the first note that they hit, it invigorates you,” he said. “You don’t have to leave the boundaries of Schuylkill County to enjoy the arts. It’s right here in your backyard,” Hess said.
“It’s a cultural opportunity you’d never expect to hear,” Kathy Daniels, Barnesville, said.
During intermission, R. Antonio “Tony” Doroba, board president, said he was “extremely proud” seeing someone like Weiderhold succeed. “That’s why we’re here. We want to promote our youth and want to see them energized.”
Today, as a professional musician, Weiderhold’s musical career has come full-circle — the student has become the teacher. She also studied under Sylvia Ahramjian, Michael Jamanis, James Stern, and Arnold Steinhardt and has received degrees from both West Chester University and the University of Maryland.
She’s performed in Venezuela, Romania, Carnegie Hall, and most recently appeared at Tulane University in New Orleans with her piano trio, “Salisi,” and was a featured soloist in Cameroon. Weiderhold has also appeared on several television networks, and has been a featured soloist with the Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra, West Chester University Chamber and Symphony Orchestras, and the Newark Symphony Orchestra.
She’s principal second violinist of the Lancaster Symphony Orchestra, assistant concertmaster of the Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra, serves as assistant concertmaster of the Pennsylvania Philharmonic, and is concertmaster of the Anthracite Philharmonic. Weiderhold has collaborated with some of Philadelphia’s most popular singer/songwriters, having appeared on Andrew Lipke’s The Plague and Siddiqah as first violinist of the Azrael String Quartet. The group is currently releasing their newest album.
She provides private violin and viola instruction and has been a faculty member at the Darlington Fine Arts Center, The Music Centre, Blue Mountain Academy, Olenka School of Music in Maryland and has taught young students at the Pennsylvania Academy of Music in Lancaster, as well as several music camps. Weiderhold is a faculty member of Linden Hall School in Lititz and has a private music studio in West Chester.
Pan, a Chinese-American pianist who has won several international competitions, received his early musical training from his grandmother and parents who were pianists, Pan Yiming and Ying Shizhen. He studied at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, Syracuse University in New York, and earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Rutgers University. He’s performed solo recitals worldwide. Pan is an adjunct professor of piano and director of Pre College Music Division at Millersville University, and a visiting professor at many universities and conservatories in China. He serves as artistic director of the Lancaster International Piano Festival.
The final Gabriel Chamber Ensemble performance for the 26th season will be 3 p.m.April 24 at the Jerusalem Lutheran Church, 252 Dock St., Schuylkill Haven. It will feature 13-year-old Malachi Ahlert on the violin and Anthony Cecere on the alphorn.
The large ensemble scheduled to appear includes: Maurer, Inna Eyzerovich, Barbara Jaffe, Becky Brown, Mary Ogletree, Weiderhold, Agnès Maurer, Louise Jaffe, Gerall Hieser and Domenick Fiore.
Concert-goers will hear pieces by Handel, Grieg, Mendelssohn, Bottesini, Mozart and Vivaldi.
Meanwhile, the Gabriel Youth Orchestra, conducted by John Potlunas, will hold its final concert for the 2015-16 season at 3 p.m. May 1 at DHH Lengel Auditorium, Pottsville.