Monroe: Out for new blood
An acclaimed
violinist wants to change the image of serious classical music
Staten Island Advance - March 11, 2005
Famously versatile violinist Diane Monroe has
deleted a couple of words from her every day vocabulary, namely
“serious” and “classical.”
So, anyone who is curious about her recital tomorrow at the College
of Staten Island (CSI) should understand that it will be a program
of “concert music.”
Off the record, of course, Ms. Monroe is happy to reveal that the
program will be “basically classical.”
Like virtually every other “serious, classical” performer, ensemble
or presenter across the country, Ms. Monroe is anxious to lure new
blood, namely the 18-to-35-year-old crew, into the concert hall. Her
hunch is that they are wary of terms like ‘‘serious and “classical.”
Her strategy is outreach. Earlier this week, she played for Curtis
High School students (who have an all-strings ensemble and CSI music
degree candidates).
Ms. Monroe — known nationally for her ability to play Brahms, jazz
and Broadway all in the program — wields a Guadagnini violin, a
priceless instrument comparable to a Stradivarius.
The Philadelphia native trained at Oberlin, Michigan State and the
Curtis Institute. She has performed in most major classical venue
and festivals and in jazz concerts with such masters as Max Roach.
Admission to tomorrow’s 8 p.m. concert in the Center for the Arts on
the Willowbrook campus is $20. Call (718) 982-ARTS or visit
csi.cuny.edu/ arts.
By Michael J. Fressola
Reprinted here with permission from the
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