ARTICLE
Photo Cred_ Jeff Fasano For Immediate Release—Santa Cruz, Calif. Santa Cruz Symphony Music Director, Daniel Stewart, announced that Nigel Armstrong has been hired as the Symphony’s new concertmaster. “I am absolutely thrilled that Nigel accepted my invitation to join the Santa Cruz Symphony’s family as its new concertmaster. Not only is he a soloist of international renown, having established a name for himself as a prizewinner at several of the world's most prestigious competitions, including the Tchaikovsky, the Yehudi Menuhin, and the Corpus Christi International Violin Competitions, but he is also highly regarded for his phenomenal leadership as a concertmaster,” states Music Director Daniel Stewart. Hailed as a dynamic and creative artist both within and beyond the realm of classical music, Armstrong feels fortunate to have had the chance to explore great orchestral literature throughout his career. From his musical beginnings as a member of "The Little Fiddlers" in Sonoma, CA to collaborations with tango musicians in Argentina to performing as concertmaster with a number of orchestras, Armstrong has enjoyed using the violin in a versatile manner throughout his life. As Peter Dobrin wrote of his performance with the Curtis Symphony Orchestra of Strauss’ defining concertmaster solo from his tone poem Ein Heldenleben: ‘…eyebrows were raised – not in doubt, but with awe. The work features intermittent but extended violin solos, played here by concertmaster Nigel Armstrong. Just getting through the part grants exoneration in the violin world. But Armstrong, 22, a second-year Curtis student, played at a level so highly developed it would have brought honor to any professional orchestra. It wasn’t about technique, though that’s firmly in place. His was a real interpretation, with shape and purpose, minute manipulation of pitch and time, and fine gradations of bow speed. And then there was the sound. Armstrong – from Sonoma, Calif. – used a Guadagnini…. It was no doubt partly responsible for the throaty low register, responsiveness, and penetrating-but-sweet upper notes. But in Armstrong, it had a natural partner able to make it ring. When one player sets this kind of standard, it throws down the gauntlet for the rest.’ (Philadelphia Inquirer, October 16, 2012). As a soloist Armstrong has performed with orchestras such as the Dusseldorf Symphony, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, the St. Petersburg Philharmonic, YOA Orchestra of the Americas, and the Boston Pops, and with conductors including Sir Neville Marriner and Carlos Miguel Prieto. As a chamber musician his concerts have taken him across the US and abroad; highlights have included opportunities to share the stage with the Tokyo String Quartet and pianist Jonathan Biss. “I’m looking forward to our next season with Nigel as our new concertmaster. With his technical skill and musicality, he will raise the Santa Cruz Symphony’s artistic quality to a new level. It will be fun to see the audience’s reaction,” states Executive Director Dorothy Wise. A graduate of the Colburn School and the Curtis Institute of Music, Nigel's teachers have included Arnold Steinhardt, Robert Lipsett, Zaven Melikian, and Donald Weilerstein, among others. He also recently had the opportunity to live with and learn from the Plum Village community founded by Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh, where he spent a year working on their organic farm and taking part in their daily life, an experience for which he continues to be grateful. “I'm looking forward greatly to making music with the Santa Cruz Symphony! It'll also be a joy to play a role in the Santa Cruz community--I used to come with my grandparents when I was a child and I have many fond memories of this special and beautiful place,” states Armstrong. Founded in 1958, the Santa Cruz Symphony's mission is to inspire, educate and engage through artistic excellence, distinctive musical performances, and varied activities that celebrate and enhance cultural vibrancy. With Maestro Daniel Stewart as Music Director since 2013, the Symphony partners regularly with regional and international guest artists in both traditional and modern concerts. A cornerstone of the performing arts in the Greater San Francisco and Monterey Bay Areas, Santa Cruz Symphony receives frequent critical acclaim. Visit santacruzsymphony.org for more information. Contact: Dorothy Wise, Executive Director 831.462.0553 ext. 13 executivedirector@santacruzsymphony.org
For Immediate Release—Santa Cruz, Calif. Santa Cruz Symphony Music Director, Daniel Stewart, announced that Nigel Armstrong has been hired as the Symphony’s new concertmaster. “I am absolutely thrilled that Nigel accepted my invitation to join the Santa Cruz Symphony’s family as its new concertmaster. Not only is he a soloist of international renown, having established a name for himself as a prizewinner at several of the world's most prestigious competitions, including the Tchaikovsky, the Yehudi Menuhin, and the Corpus Christi International Violin Competitions, but he is also highly regarded for his phenomenal leadership as a concertmaster,” states Music Director Daniel Stewart. Hailed as a dynamic and creative artist both within and beyond the realm of classical music, Armstrong feels fortunate to have had the chance to explore great orchestral literature throughout his career. From his musical beginnings as a member of "The Little Fiddlers" in Sonoma, CA to collaborations with tango musicians in Argentina to performing as concertmaster with a number of orchestras, Armstrong has enjoyed using the violin in a versatile manner throughout his life. As Peter Dobrin wrote of his performance with the Curtis Symphony Orchestra of Strauss’ defining concertmaster solo from his tone poem Ein Heldenleben: ‘…eyebrows were raised – not in doubt, but with awe. The work features intermittent but extended violin solos, played here by concertmaster Nigel Armstrong. Just getting through the part grants exoneration in the violin world. But Armstrong, 22, a second-year Curtis student, played at a level so highly developed it would have brought honor to any professional orchestra. It wasn’t about technique, though that’s firmly in place. His was a real interpretation, with shape and purpose, minute manipulation of pitch and time, and fine gradations of bow speed. And then there was the sound. Armstrong – from Sonoma, Calif. – used a Guadagnini…. It was no doubt partly responsible for the throaty low register, responsiveness, and penetrating-but-sweet upper notes. But in Armstrong, it had a natural partner able to make it ring. When one player sets this kind of standard, it throws down the gauntlet for the rest.’ (Philadelphia Inquirer, October 16, 2012). As a soloist Armstrong has performed with orchestras such as the Dusseldorf Symphony, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, the St. Petersburg Philharmonic, YOA Orchestra of the Americas, and the Boston Pops, and with conductors including Sir Neville Marriner and Carlos Miguel Prieto. As a chamber musician his concerts have taken him across the US and abroad; highlights have included opportunities to share the stage with the Tokyo String Quartet and pianist Jonathan Biss. “I’m looking forward to our next season with Nigel as our new concertmaster. With his technical skill and musicality, he will raise the Santa Cruz Symphony’s artistic quality to a new level. It will be fun to see the audience’s reaction,” states Executive Director Dorothy Wise. A graduate of the Colburn School and the Curtis Institute of Music, Nigel's teachers have included Arnold Steinhardt, Robert Lipsett, Zaven Melikian, and Donald Weilerstein, among others. He also recently had the opportunity to live with and learn from the Plum Village community founded by Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh, where he spent a year working on their organic farm and taking part in their daily life, an experience for which he continues to be grateful. “I'm looking forward greatly to making music with the Santa Cruz Symphony! It'll also be a joy to play a role in the Santa Cruz community--I used to come with my grandparents when I was a child and I have many fond memories of this special and beautiful place,” states Armstrong. Founded in 1958, the Santa Cruz Symphony's mission is to inspire, educate and engage through artistic excellence, distinctive musical performances, and varied activities that celebrate and enhance cultural vibrancy. With Maestro Daniel Stewart as Music Director since 2013, the Symphony partners regularly with regional and international guest artists in both traditional and modern concerts. A cornerstone of the performing arts in the Greater San Francisco and Monterey Bay Areas, Santa Cruz Symphony receives frequent critical acclaim. Visit santacruzsymphony.org for more information. Contact: Dorothy Wise, Executive Director 831.462.0553 ext. 13 executivedirector@santacruzsymphony.org