Young musician Laura Smith will team up with her even younger brother Darin to present a medley of Christmas favorites at this year”s Christmas symphony concert presented by Clear Lake Performing Arts. The event takes place at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 17, in the Clear Lake High School theater and will also include selections by the Lake County Symphony under the direction of John Parkinson and a special appearance by jazz singer Paula Samonte.
Laura Smith, an accomplished and versatile musician, will play violin while 12-year-old Darin Smith will be featured on cello. Both young performers are skilled on a variety of instruments, with Laura beginning her career at age four playing the piano, followed by the Celtic Harp before settling on the violin as her instrument of choice. She currently teaches and performs oldtime, Celtic and contest fiddle styles, along with her classical playing. She is a member of both the Lake County and Ukiah symphonies and is a former recipient of a CLPA scholarship. She has studied with a number of outstanding teachers including Darol Anger, National Fiddle champions Tashina and Tristan Clarridge, Megan Lynch and Yoko Atcheson and is now a music teacher herself with her students winning prizes at several contests. Laura reigns as the Oldtime Fiddle Champion for the second year running at Cloverdale and has placed second in her division in the California State Championships and the Western Open.
Darin, who delayed the start of his musical studies until age 6, is gaining ground on his big sister, having first taken up the classical violin under the tutelage of Yoko Atcheson and then moving on to fiddle competitions as well as taking up the tenor guitar. As a fiddler, Darin has won the “12 and under” division championships at the Carson City Rendezvous, the Fiddletown County Fair in Nevada and the Ukiah Pumpkinfest, along with a second place in his division at the California State Championships and a third place at the State Championships.
Although well-grounded in classical cello, Darin has also achieved skills in playing the instrument “fiddle-style” with the help of teacher Tristan Clarridge. Along with his classical playing ? he also plays with the Lake County Symphony and, at age 11, was the youngest musician ever to play with the Ukiah Symphony ? he is a member of a pop band, with his sister Laura.
Admission to the concert is $15 for the general public, $10 for CLPA members with youths younger than 18 admitted free. All proceeds go to help fund music activities in Lake County including the Symphony, a series of regular concerts each year and youth scholarships.
