Glorious music, glorious talent

Paul Andersen, Enjoy!

GLENDALE -- For most 16-year-old American males, Saturday nights are a

rite of passage into an adult world. You might cruise the boulevard with

your friends or hang out at the local burger joint, all the time checking

out your female counterparts.

It’s a time-honored tradition that will probably hold steady into the

next millennium, engendering a “been there, done that” response if you

were to poll men from any age group that you would care to focus on.

Howard Zhang may also one day give that answer, but right now the

16-year-old is following another path of empowerment, one that will find

a far wider audience than a small cadre of friends.

A child prodigy on the violin, Zhang already has established himself

as a musician whose career is on an upward trajectory, one that requires

him to spend many Saturday nights on the concert stage.

For example, on Saturday, he will be the featured soloist with the

Glendale Symphony Orchestra, playing Mendelssohn’s “Violin Concerto, Opus

64” as part of the ensemble’s “Glorious Music” concert at The Alex

Theatre in Glendale.

“This will be my third time playing with Glendale,” the young musician

said over the phone from his Long Beach hotel room, between rehearsals

for a concert by that city’s orchestra on yet another Saturday night.

“The last time was when I was 12,” he said. “And the nice thing is, I

will get to play alongside my father, which doesn’t happen very often. It

will be a true family affair.”

Ke-gong Zhang, Howard’s father, is the second violinist with the

Glendale Symphony. The family makes its home in New York City, where the

younger violinist attends Juilliard, the famed music school, studying

under Itzhak Perlman and Dorothy Delay.

Sidney Weiss, music director and conductor of the Glendale Symphony,

is impressed by Howard’s ability.

“Howard is an extraordinary talent, and is one of the best young

violinists I have ever had the pleasure of hearing,” he said.

“In fact, you can eliminate the word young from that statement.”

Weiss admitted to having special empathy for the young musician.

“As a fellow violinist, we breathe together,” he said with a laugh.

“But Howard is very serious, exceptionally conscientious about his

God-given talent. There are some young players who gain a reputation and

then ride on their talent, which is very dangerous. He doesn’t take

anything for granted.”

The maestro also was enthusiastic about the concerts now being

broadcast on an area radio station.

In an arrangement with KMZT-FM (105.1), this season’s Glendale

Symphony concerts will be recorded for broadcast on the classical station

a few weeks after each show. The opening concert aired Nov. 19, and the

broadcast of the “Glorious Christmas” concert is scheduled for 8 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 17.

“I’m not sure how exactly it came about,” Weiss said, “but it is a

wonderful opportunity to expand our audience.”

As for being 16, Zhang is philosophically ambiguous.

“You’re not too young, and you’re not too old,” he said.

For now, the burger joints can wait. After all, there are curtain

calls to be answered.

IF YOU GO

WHO: The Glendale Symphony Orchestra, Sidney Weiss, conductor, Howard

Zhang, violinist.

WHAT: “Glorious Music,” featuring music by Bach, Mendelssohn,

Rachmaninoff and Haydn.

WHEN: 8 p.m. Saturday.

WHERE: The Alex Theatre, 216 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale.

TICKETS: $15 to $45, Call (800) 233-3123 or stop by The Alex box

office.

INFO: 500-8720, www.glendalesymphony.org.

BONUS: “Tuba Christmas” precedes the concert at 6:15 p.m. in front of

The Alex, with more than 200 tuba players joining forces to play

favorites of the season. Admission is free.

BROADCAST: A recording of the “Glorious Christmas” concert will be

broadcast on KMZT-FM (105.1) at 8 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 17.