Renowned Violinist Helps Out Children's Orchestra
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One of the students in the orchestra is Noga, 6, a local second grader who has been playing violin for eight months. The group that Noga was to play with - four violinists (ages 5-9) and two violists (age 7 and 8) - was missing a first Violinist. South Pasadena Strings Program director Susan Pascale asked Noga's dad to step in.
And he did, playing the lead on pieces like "Sakura Sakura," and "Hey Fiddle Fiddle," for Pasadena art lovers. None of the passers-by realized that Hagai Shaham is an internationally renowned concert violinist who has played with all the world's major orchestras, and soloed at Carnegie Hall numerous times.
Hagai didn't mind that no one recognized him. On the contrary, he says, "it was a dream come true to play a concert with my daughter, and I never thought it would happen so soon. "Noga, a second grader, has been playing violin for eight months.
"The music selection may have also played a role in his anonymity" notes Pascale, "possibly because he was playing pieces intended for children. 'Hey Fiddle Fiddle' never sounded so good!'
The group raised about $56.80 in twenty minutes. The next day, Hagai boarded a plane for a concert in North Carolina. And Noga's group has only $59,950 to go to get to Carnegie Hall.