In Friday’s (12/3) Arizona Republic (Phoenix), Weldon B. Johnson writes, “The audience at the Chandler Symphony Orchestra concert Sunday might want to hang on to their programs because they could be witnessing the beginning of a storied career in music. Or they might be able to tell their friends 20 years from now they saw a World Cup soccer player playing the violin. … It’s impossible to say what young violinist Jonathan Okensiuk will do with his life because he’s only 4 years old. Jonathan will perform ‘Humoresque’ by Antonin Dvorak with the orchestra at Sunday’s holiday concerts at the Sun Lakes United Methodist Church. … Desiree Okensiuk, Jonathan’s mother, said he has been interested in music since before he could walk but it really took off when he saw a performance on television. … Edwin and Desiree Okensiuk, who live in Mesa, nurtured Jonathan’s interest by buying him concert DVDs of violinists such as Jascha Heifetz and Itzhak Perlman. … Jonathan enjoys conducting as much as playing violin. There are videos of him on YouTube conducting Beethoven and Brahms (search for 3-year-old Jonathan conducting). He’ll also conduct the Chandler Symphony at its youth-themed concert on March 27.”
Posted December 8, 2010
