MUSIC

Renowned violinist to join family for free concert in Las Cruces

Leah Romero
Las Cruces Sun-News
Ariella Zeitlin is a world renowned violinist and vocalist based in Israel.

LAS CRUCES – World renowned violinist and vocalist Ariella Zeitlin will perform in Las Cruces Sunday, Dec. 11 in a free concert hosted at Temple Beth-El.

Zeitlin is based in Israel, though she is originally from the United States. She is known for her style of blending classical music with pop culture and rock staples. Ariella’s ties to Las Cruces include her aunt, Leora Zeitlin, KRWG classical music host, and cousin, Amalia Zeitlin, violinist and co-founder of Camerata del Sol.

Camerata del Sol is a string ensemble made up of 15 musicians from the borderland area. The professional ensemble performs chamber music pieces locally, advocate for the arts and serve as a “training ensemble” for local college musicians, according to their website.

Amalia explained that she and her cousin both come from a musical lineage. Their grandfather, Zvi Zeitlin, was a highly revered violinist and at age 11 became the youngest scholarship student in the history of The Juilliard School. He performed internationally with such greats at Itzhak Perlman, Leonard Bernstein, Jascha Horenstein and more. He taught students from all over the world, including as a professor at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York.

Zvi passed away in 2012 at the age of 90.

“He was very much a classical violinist. He toured all over the world as a soloist. And both of us grew up with him as somebody that we looked up to and someone who we took lessons from,” Amalia said. “At a certain point, we both had to figure out musically how to find our own voice, having this sort of like giant of a grandfather.”

Ariella used her classical knowledge as a jumping off point to then experiment with all kinds of genres and delving into the family’s cultural roots in Israel. Amalia said she has continued on the classical route, interested in “using music as an avenue for social change and upward mobility,” she said.

Camerata del Sol performances are typically free or require a little charge to give all people access to high caliber music.

“The classical music world has for a long time been somewhat elite and expensive and prohibitive, but it shouldn’t be. Especially because everyday there’s more and more research that shows that access to live music and also access to music education is so healthy for when it comes to mental health, cognitive function and also societal health,” Amalia said.

The ensemble performs throughout the year and also offers a free afterschool music program

Sunday’s performance will offer Israeli, Jewish and Yiddish pieces, along with a mix of crossover and fusion takes on popular music. It will also be the first time the two cousins perform a full concert together and in Las Cruces. Ariella is the lead, but Amalia will join her on several pieces.

The concert starts at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11 at Temple Beth-El, 3980 Sonoma Springs Ave. Amalia is a congregant of the temple and the youth group advisor.

All are welcome to attend the free performance. Reservations are recommended due to limited space. Seats can be reserved online at www.eventbrite.com/e/ariella-zeitlin-concert-in-las-cruces-nm-tickets.  

Those interested in experiencing Camerate del Sol can enjoy the ensemble’s “An Evening of Florence” performance at 7 p.m. Dec. 16 at the Woman’s Club of El Paso featuring “Souvenir de Florence” by Tchaikovsky and “String Quartet No. 2 in A Minor” by Florence Price.

The group’s first annual fundraising soirée is Dec. 15 at the Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum. “A Taste of Florence” will offer Italian cuisine and performances of the two “Florence-themed pieces. More information about both events can be found on the group's website.

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Leah Romero is the trending reporter at the Las Cruces Sun-News and can be reached at 575-418-3442, LRomero@lcsun-news.com or @rromero_leah on Twitter.