Andre Rieu's Violin Gift
Strings attached to this gift from Andre Rieu's
Article from: The Daily Telegraph
June 18, 2009 12:00am
CRANEBROOK grandmother Kate Young hasn't picked up a violin for 35 years.
She was forced to sell the one she played as a child when her husband Jay lost his job in the '80s.
That's where classical music sensation Andre Rieu came in.
The Dutch musician, conductor and composer got wind of her story after Ms Young wrote a letter to Alan Jones thanking him for playing Rieu's music and explaining her situation.
Jones read her letter to Rieu on air when he was in the country in May and Rieu decided to purchase Ms Young a new violin. Yesterday Jones presented Ms Young, 57, with the $2200 Otto Jos. Klier violin on his 2GB radio program.
She had the opportunity to thank Rieu personally when he called the show from San Francisco where he is about to start his US west coast tour.
Overwhelmed, Ms Young, who favours Strauss waltzes, described the gesture as "absolutely amazing, a very humbling experience".
"I actually met Andre in Blacktown and he just said to me if I want to play with him I've got to practise five hours a day," she said.
Rieu said he had "never" done anything like this before.
"I heard Alan reading this letter and I thought it was a sad story," he said. "I thought that everyone in the world should be able to make music so we bought a violin for her."
Rieu, who plays a 277-year-old Stradivarius violin, expects Young to play for him when he returns to Australia in October.
"She has to practise between now and then I want to hear the results," he said.
Andre Rieu performs at Acer Arena on October 15 and 16.
ANOTHER SURPISE ON THE KINDNESS OF ANDRE' RIEU. KEEP ON PRACTING AND YOU WILL HAVE THE MOST WONDERFUL LIFE LONG CAREER WITH THE GREATEST VIOLINEST IN THE WORLD. WOW WOW .
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Helo Kate,
What a wondeful generous gift you have recieved from Andre....keep up the great work of practicing....I would love to hear you play....so please keep us updated.
I actually bought a violin after hearing Andre play and fell in love with the violin..never played an instrument before.... so I got a teacher but unfortunately my teacher is no longer available due to unforseen circumstances and I cannot find another teacher in my area...
Joy in Australia
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Andre is surely a great guy: and an inspiring example of how far one can go with nearly the oldest, and most impressive musical instrument known to mankind. For those looking for a teacher, this site may help you get by until that day comes: MasterViolinClasses Best Wishes All! -Bruce
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What a wonderfull story ! I am seeing Andre in Sydney in October, I cannot wait to hear how kate has progressed,It will be great to see this ordinary everday woman playing with the worlds best !
Comon Andre giver her a chance to play .
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