Violinist (Un)Interrupted

By now, you’ve probably heard a lot about the steamy thrills of Don John, the loud and wild ride of Addicted to Bad Ideas and buzz about the many other hits that are Spoleto 2009.

But one of the best things about our once-a-year premier festival is that there is still plenty of talent on our peninsula after it ends.

There are 378 days between annual programs, and during each one of them a world-famous classical violinist will be living in our own back yard. Better yet, she’ll be working fervently to pump up Charleston’s music scene.

Lee-Chin Siow – who launched her debut album at Piccolo Spoleto’s Spotlight Series last week – has been globetrotting since she was first talent-spotted in Singapore at the age of 15. She’s performed to critical acclaim in more than 20 countries on five continents, taught at some of the world’s top music conservatories and set up shop in New York, Cleveland and Chicago.

Then in 2001, the College of Charleston asked her to build up its strings program. She says she quickly fell in love with the city’s beautiful landscapes and great people. Which is good news for the rest of us, since it means she’s been here for nearly a decade without (we hope) too much temptation to find another home base.

A self-professed fan of Charleston’s colorful cultural life, this high-demand instrumentalist is always seeking the next best way to help grow the city’s music scene. We have her to thank for co-founding the Charleston Music Fest, the annual chamber series that brings in world-class musicians throughout the year. And her own local concerts offer intimate affairs that attract audiences ranging from young professionals to avid music fans.

Plus, who can pass up getting to know the talents of a worldwide music celeb? Siow spends much of her time jet-setting to places like Brazil and the Ukraine and even Spoleto, Italy, where she’s spent several summers teaching and performing. So the time we have with her is pretty valuable, particularly when you consider that she fits it all in between directing the college’s strings program and instructing private students from as far away as South America and Europe.

In a sampling of solo recordings at www.LeeChin.com, it’s easy to see why music critics have used words like “flawless,” “spellbinding” and “electrifying” to describe the sounds coming from her strings.

Lucky for us, her first album is making its U.S. debut right here in Charleston. “Songs My Father Taught Me” – a 13-song tribute to the man she says inspired her passion for music – will be available in the CofC book store and www.CDbaby.com this summer. You can also pick it up at the Piccolo Spoleto gift shop in the Gailliard. Just say you’re looking for the gorgeous rock star violinist. They’ll know who you mean.

Story by Heather Mueller