On Dec. 7, the Community Arts Center, 220 W. Fourth St., will play host to the diverse talents of Bowfire, a group hailed as "the leading names in each genre of modern string playing."
Audiences can expect to see and hear some of the most talented fiddle and violin players assembled on one stage, performing exciting songs from myriad genres, including jazz, classical, bluegrass, Celtic, rock, gypsy, world, Texas Swing, Ottawa Valley and Cape Breton styles. The show will be rounded out by step and tap dancing, vocal performances, fast-paced choreographies and dramatic costume and set designs.
What's more, Bowfire will perform a special, Holiday-themed show at the CAC, titled "Holiday Heart Strings."
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On Dec. 7, the Community Arts Center, 220 W. Fourth St., will play host to the diverse talents of Bowfire, a group hailed as “the leading names in each genre of modern string playing.”
Bowfire's founder and artistic director is Lenny Solomon. His career has spanned more than three decades and five continents and his curriculum vitae shows it: three-time winner of the National Jazz Awards' annual Violinist of the Year award, extensive American, Canadian and Japanese tours, featured jazz violinist with multiple prestigious orchestras, and the list goes on.
"We've been touring extensively since 2002, so this is our 10th year of serious touring to great audiences all across the [United] States and internationally," Solomon said.
Solomon considers himself a "classically trained jazz violinist." His career has afforded him the opportunity to meet and work with some of the best musicians playing today. For him, the decision to start Bowfire was easy: "I collected my favorite violinists and fiddlers, put us all in a room together, locked the door and listened to what came out."
The result was the earliest form of what is now Bowfire. Then, in 2000, the Canadian government contacted Solomon to put together a group of musicians to play at an International Expo in Hanover, Germany. The group would both represent and honor Canada for Canada Day (similar to the United States' Independence Day).
"Producers from New York were in the audience and urged me to take the show on the road," Solomon said. "It took a few years to put the show together, but we've been touring ever since."
Solomon said that audiences at the "Holiday Heart Strings" performance should expect the same elements of Bowfire's regular, non-seasonal show, like "the singing, the great fiddle-playing, the virtuoso violin playing, and step dancing, but with a fabulous holiday element added in."
Bowfire will offer up its renditions of songs like "Carol of the Bells," pieces from Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker Suite," "Feliz Navidad" and "Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel" to name a few.
One of the most rewarding aspects for Solomon and the members of Bowfire has to be the feedback.
"We get letters from parents thanking us for putting on such a great performance; saying that we've encouraged and excited their children who are studying music to get up to the practice room and have fun with it, the way we do," said Solomon. "That really makes it worthwhile."
And it isn't just children being inspired by Bowfire, either.
"I don't want to say that seniors are throwing their walkers away and dancing through the halls after the show, but it is certainly an invigorating and exhilarating experience," he said with a smile.
It is obvious in talking with Solomon that he enjoys his job; and that will no doubt come across on stage.
"I love what I do, and I love that I can include so many great musicians," he said.
Bowfire's "Holiday Heart Strings" is perfect for anyone who loves virtuoso violin playing, choreographed dance, holiday music from all over the world and watching some the world's best fiddlers and violinists doing what it is they do best.
For tickets or more information, call 326-2424 or 800-432-9382, or visit the Community Arts Center's website at www.caclive.com/index.php/music/bowfire.
To learn more about Bowfire, its members, and upcoming tour dates, visit them online at www.bowfire.com/hol iday, or find them on Facebook.
Youtube, or Myspace.
Bowfire will perform its Holiday Heart Strings show at Williamsport's Community Arts Center, located at 220 West Fourth Street, at 7:30 p.m. Friday, December 7th.
