(from R) Camille and Jeanette take a bow
By Marcia E. Gawecki
For the second year in a row, Camille and Shen have hosted their classical music recitals together.
Their Idyllwild Arts senior recital, featuring oboe and clarinet, was held on Tuesday, May 8, at 7:30 p.m. at Stephens Recital Hall.
Each gave a lively performance and were happy and breathless afterwards. At one point, Camille thought she was going to pass out, but didn’t.
Camille and Shen are friends, fellow orchestra members and complement each other well, like Bogie and Bacall.
Shen hails from China, while Camille was born in Los Angeles to Chinese parents. Shen is gregarious and short with dimples, while Camille is aloof, brainy, and leggy.
They even share the same last name.
“Liu is a pretty common name in China, like Smith is in the U.S.,” said Camille.
Shen lost the toss, so Camille would play first at their recital. Going first is always better because oftentimes a majority of the audience leaves to socialize or study before their 10 p.m. curfew.
“I know that most of them will stay because Shen is really popular,” said Camille beforehand.
(from R) Shen with Nelms
This year, Shen won the Idyllwild Arts Concerto Competition, which meant he got to perform as a soloist along with the Idyllwild Arts Orchestra.
Shen was also a prefect, or student advisor, during the year. In the fall, he will attend Juilliard School of Music in New York. Lake, a jazz bass player and Idyllwild Arts senior will join him.
Not to be outdone, Camille got more than 2200 score on her SATs, and will be going to Northwestern University in Evanston in the fall.
Camille will continue her musical studies, but is looking forward to Northwestern’s academic challenge.
Last year, during their junior recitals, both only had to play only :30 minutes each, but as seniors, they had to play :45 minutes each.
“I think mine went over 10 minutes, so Shen got cheated a little bit,” admitted Camille.
For her first number, Camille played J.S. Bach’s “Sonata in G Minor BMV 1020” with Jeanette Louise Yaryan on piano. It sounded like a mellow piece. At times, Camille’s oboe sounded more like a flute. But then the Allego gave way to fast fingers, and Camille gave a sigh of relief at its end.
“Concerto in C Major, K 314” by W. A. Mozart showed off Camille’s ability to play long notes. Benny Kleinerman accompanied her on piano.
For her third selection, Camille was reunited with bassoon player, Felix, and Nelm McKelvain on piano. Just weeks before, the three had played Francis Poulenc’s “Trio for Piano, Oboe and Bassoon” at Felix’s Junior Recital.
“I’m helping her because she helped me,” said Felix as he headed for the dressing room.
It was the same piece, but somehow it sounded differently that night.
(from L) Brian Cohen talks with Camille's dad afterwards while her mom and Peter Askim listen in
“I think Nelms started out faster this time,” said Felix later.
The Presto, Adante and Rondo parts of that song reminded me of a flirtation or courtship. Like songbirds calling out to each other between the trees.
All three looked at each other for timing cues and sounded like they really enjoyed the piece. Nelms was smiling most of the time from behind the piano.
The recital ended with Camille Saint-Saens’ “Sonata in D Major, Op. 166.”
Even though her oboe teacher, Francisco Castillo from Redlands was not in the audience, he was there in spirit. Just the day before, Camille had a lesson with him She’ll see him again before the fall.
“I don’t know how to say good-bye,” Camille said. “He’s been my teacher since I was ten.”
Music Director Peter Askim and Headmaster Brian Cohen spoke to Camille’s parents afterwards, and Peter and Music Department Head Ryan Zwahlen congratulated Camille.
“She did a great job,” said Ryan, who also plays the oboe. “Everything she played was difficult. She’s really come a long way.”
Needless to say, not everyone in the audience left after intermission. In fact, a few more people came after the break to see Shen. It was a full house for both.
Camille was all smiles afterwards
Shen started out strong with a short and lively piece by Henri Rabaud, “Solo de Concours.” It showcased his ability to go up and down the scales on his clarinet with rapid accuracy.
Unlike Camille, Shen didn’t change piano players, but kept with Nelms McKelvain the whole time. Their next piece, “Sonatina” by Malcolm Arnold, showed the complexities of both instruments. At times, the music sounded frenetic.
Shen’s next piece, “Fantasia da Concerto ‘La Traiata’ by D. Verdi by Donato Lovreglio, was Peter Askim’s favorite.
“I really liked how you played the opera,” Peter told Shen afterwards. “It showed a lot of colors.”
From the look of things, it was a difficult piece to do because Shen was breathing heavy afterwards.
After that piece, Shen mixed it up with “Sonata” by Francis Proulenc. The audience, made up of mostly music students and staff members, whooped it up after that piece was finished.
George Gershwin’s “Preludes for Clarinet and Piano Accompaniment,” arranged by James Cohn, was an interesting end to Shen’s recital. It seemed more ragtime than classical.
“No Gershwin’s music is in the classical realm,” defended Camille afterwards.
The best part is that Shen looked like he was having a ball playing it. Maybe because it was his last high school recital, and he was savoring every moment.
(from L) Shen poses with Ryan
Shen, too, will find it difficult to say good-bye to his teacher, Yehuda Gilead, from USC, who has been more of a mentor than a clarinet teacher. Yehuda wasn’t there at the concert, but Shen went to LA the next day with the disk in hand to discuss the performance with him.
In the audience was YiLing, an Idyllwild Arts music alum, who now attends Boston Conservatory, and was on summer break.
“He did a great job,” YiLing said, as they posed for pictures afterwards.
Copyright 2012 Idyllwild Me. All rights reserved.
the attachments to this post:
Shen Ryan Exit
Camille Afterwards CU
Camille’s parents Brian Peter
Shen Solo LS
Camille Recital Jeanette Bow
Shen Solo LS
Shen Camille Afterwards
