Saturday will mark a new era for a group of young violin students at Richmond Music School.
That’s when they will perform at a special concert using brand new instruments for the first time since the inception of a program which offers deeply discounted lessons and a free violin for 35 children aged four and up whose families would not normally be able to afford them an education in music.
The youngsters belong to the Violin Outreach Program that was started by instructor Tatyana Kravsun 15 years ago.
According to the school’s principal, Patricia Rolston, the violins are loaned to encourage steady practice at home and students keep it for the term as they perform throughout Richmond and Vancouver at schools, churches and retirement homes — in short, anywhere they are invited.
“The wonderful music they play, it just makes you want to cry sometimes,” said Rolston, who added the program’s main goal was to open up the world of music to youngsters.
“It’s a wonderful introduction and a very social thing, too, since the best way to play the violin is in a group,” Rolston said. “Most of the students are not going to be professional musicians, but this program offers them a place to learn a lifelong skill and a hobby.”
Since its beginning, the program has been funded in part by the BC Gaming Commission.
“We only charge a small fraction of what the lessons would normally be, and the violins are provided free, but with a deposit to make sure they come back in good condition,” Rolston said, adding the program does not require any financial information from families in order to enrol their children.
Continued funding from the commission helped purchase the new instruments, while most of the old ones will be retired.
“There’s a few that the bow was used as a sword now and again,” Rolston laughed. “That kind of thing will happen from time to time.”
Tickets for Saturday’s ensemble performance at the school’s 500-seat recital hall, located at 11371 No. 3 Road, are available at the door — $10 for adults and $5 for children.
