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Arts & Entertainment

Stunning Sounds at Young Musicians' Concert

Cranford violinist Ania Filochowska, 16, was among four area young people to be recognized at a concert put on by the Suburban Music Study Club.

Cranford violinist Ania Filochowska, 16, was formally awarded the Suburban Music Study Club's 2010 annual scholarship during a benefit concert Sunday afternoon put on by the club at Chatham United Methodist Church.

Filochowska's playing was featured in a concert that included three other award winners.

"It was a pleasure to hear her—she is a true artist," said professional violinist and Kean University professor of music performance Victoria Stewart of Filochowska. Stewart was also one of the judges who evaluated Filochowska when she competed for the scholarship. "The first thing that strikes us is just the overall excitement in the music. Technique is important as well. Ania is really something special. Part of what made her stand out was that she can play several styles extremely well."

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Born in Poland, Filochowska began playing violin at age six. By seven she had been recognized in numerous European competitions and at 10 she made her orchestral debut. She moved to the United States in 2005 to train with Itzhak Perlman at the Julliard School of Music.

She said she hopes to continue performing and plans to go on to major in music performance in college. She is considering following her brother, Piotr, who won the SMSC scholarship in 2007, to Yale University—but she said she also could perhaps return to Europe to study there.

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The admiration for the talent on display was widespread at the show. Watchung pianist Doris Lee, 17—who won the 2008 scholarship—performed at the concert, as did Chatham harpist Kathleen McAuliffe, 17, and Florham Park classical guitarist Jonathan Russo, 21. Both Russo and McAuliffe received special recognition awards.

"I never envy them because I could never have hoped to achieve what they have achieved," said SMSC President Ben Cahill.

Others agreed.

Dale Canfield, who is a senior member of both the church and SMSC, was responsible for getting much of the word out about the afternoon's event. He said the event was great for the club and good for the community in general.

"A stunning program," he said. "I was impressed with every one of the artists."

He said SMSC has two kinds of members: those who perform and those who come to hear them perform.

The club, which meets on the second Thursday of every month at 10:30 a.m. in the Chase Room at the Madison Public Library, welcomes visitors and new members. Non-performing members pay $20 per year in dues, while performing members contribute their skill in performances at the monthly meetings. Its mission is primarily to encourage young musicians, in part, by offering the yearly scholarship that totaled $1,000 dollars this year.

Donations for the scholarship were accepted at Sunday's concert.

The young artists prepare music from up to four different periods to perform in competition.

Filochowska chose music from composers Silvina Milstein and Pablo Sarasate for the competition. She also picked selections from Mozart's violin sonata in G major and Bach's Partita in B minor, which she played at Sunday's showcase.

For more information on the club, call 973-635-2408.

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