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Never discount the power of coming home.
“We’re always very excited to be playing for an audience of our teachers, mentors, friends and supporters,” said Kanako.
The Shimasaki sisters will perform together for the first time as a duet in an orchestral setting at the Symphony’s second NightLights concert of the season at 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, at the Clark State Performing Arts Center.
It seems the girls’ hands are rarely free of their bows and violins. When not performing, both are busy with graduate studies and teaching.
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Kanako is studying for her Doctorate of Musical Arts at the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music while teaching privately and at the conservatory.
“My life is going to school, eating, teaching and performing,” she said, laughing.
Mariko is in her first semester for her Masters at the Mannes School of Music in New York. The Julliard graduate also teaches 10 students.
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The pair also team with friend Luke Gillespie to perform in the trio, Three, when time allows.
Having played together since the ages of 5-6, the sisters have established a rapport even if they have different playing styles and their own unique traits.
Kanako plays first violin and Mariko second, but that’s not a case of sibling rivalry, it just works out that way and they’re fine with it, though with occasional jokes and teasing along the way.
Some of the girls’ happiest musical memories are of performing in the Springfield Youth Orchestra.
“We play well together well and try to get together when we can during school breaks,” Kanako said.
Symphony conductor Peter Stafford Wilson said this program will allow the string section to shine with two works from the baroque era and two from the 20th century that will sizzle with the sounds of the Argentine Tango.
“Astor Piazzola’s setting of ‘Four Seasons in Buenos Aires’ is an evocative piece for solo violin and orchestra that is brimming with dance rhythms,” he said. “Osvoldo Goliov’s ‘Last Rounds’ also conjures up visions of the tango.
“It is always great to check in with the Shimasaki sisters. This concert will warm your heart in many ways on a cold January night.”
The sisters are also proud they will be wearing dresses of kimono silk designed by their grandmother, who lives in Japan.
They will return there this coming summer to perform again, something they’ve done annually the past few years, each time in a different place.
The Gary Geis School of Dance will conduct tango demonstrations and instruction in the pre-concert performance prelude in the Davidson Grand Lobby, while Trudy Faber will handle the Opening Notes in the Turner Studio Theatre, both beginning at 4:15 p.m.
HOW TO GO
What: Springfield Symphony Orchestra, NightLights II Shimasaki Sisters
Where: Clark State Performing Arts Center, 300 South Fountain Ave., Springfield
When: Saturday, Jan. 20, 5 p.m.
Admission: $31-57
More info: 937-325-8100 or go to www.springfieldsym.org
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