By Faith Lynn
Staff Writer
World-renowned violinist Gilles Apap will join Pepperdine’s new string orchestra as both soloist and conductor today.
A teacher and performer who has played all over the world for nearly twenty years, Apap will play in and conduct a program tonight in Raitt Recital Hall, including Bach, Vivaldi and folk tunes.
Apap has long been praised for his talent in classical music as well as his skill in incorporating various styles of music, such as bluegrass. He has been called “the violinist of the twenty-first century” by master Yehudi Menuhin, and has had a long and illustrious career both as a soloist and guest artist with orchestras worldwide.
He has been featured on several recordings with orchestras such as the world-famous Sinfonia Varsovia and has performed on several other albums exploring different types of music. Apap has also taught in conservatories all over Europe and recently formed his own record label, Apapaziz Productions. He and his friends in the Santa Barbara area have so far released two recordings, featuring Apap and other musicians playing various styles of music.
The native Algerian has won acclaim from notable violinists, music festivals, competitions and orchestras around the world, been featured in two documentary films, and still tours the world both as a soloist and with his own ensemble, Colors of Invention.
Throughout his career, however, Apap has also been notable for his slightly unorthodox approach to music. His concentration on classical music is tempered by his work with other styles and collaboration with his band, Gilles Apap and the Transylvanian Mountain Boys.
“He’s a little untraditional,” Sara Banta, coordinator of Instrumental Music, said. “Definitely a free spirit.”
Banta said she decided Apap would be a good fit for the string orchestra’s inaugural concert for exactly that reason.
“I thought he would be a wonderful breath of fresh air to get our program started,” she said.
The concert will feature Apap directing Bach’s “Brandenburg Concerto No.3.” He will also conduct Fritz Kreisler’s “Praeludium and Allegro” and Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons,” as well as several folk tunes. Banta said she and Apap chose the pieces because they enjoyed them and they were well suited to a string orchestra.
Since the controversy last spring over whether or not to keep a student orchestra, Banta said she thinks the orchestra has recovered admirably and is doing very well. She said the students have only had the music for five weeks but are perfectly ready for the concert.
“I’m very thrilled with the players we have,” Banta said.
About half of the string orchestra is made up of last year’s full orchestra students. The present group is comprised of 20 players, including two adults. The bass player, Jay Zimliak, is employed by Pepperdine as a strength trainer to assist athletic teams, but he was invited to join the orchestra as well. Also included is Hamlin Emory, a doctor from Malibu, who plays in the cello section.
Banta said she has high hopes for the string orchestra, which will perform two concerts with Pepperdine’s choir and a concert with the opera, as well as several concerts by itself.
October 24, 2002