Castlegar native Amy Zanrosso is returning to the Kootenays to perform with the Symphony of the Kootenays (SotK) in Trail on Saturday and Cranbrook on Sunday.
Zanrosso grew up in Castlegar and developed a passion for music. In 1991, her musical aspirations led her away from Castlegar to pursue an education. She received a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Victoria before going abroad and spending several years in Italy furthering her musical education. She then returned to Canada to earn a masters degree from McGill University.
Zanrosso currently resides in Oakland, Ca. where she works as a professional pianist. She is on the faculty of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music as a chamber music coach and also does freelance work. "It's the job I've always wanted," she said of her conservatory work. "It is amazing."
Zanrosso's performance with the SotK has its roots back in 2014 when a visit home for her mother's funeral sent her looking for a cellist to play at the service. She connected with Jeff Faragher, a well-known Kootenay musician who is now the conductor of the symphony. During the following two months that Zanrosso spent at home, she played several concerts with Faragher. "Now, whenever I come back to the Kootenays, we end up playing together," she said."He has done alot for chamber music and strings in general in the Kootenays."
The program will feature Antonio Vivaldi: Autumn from The Four Seasons, Allan Gilliland: Always Be True, Ludwig Van Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op. 58 and Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade. Zanrosso will be playing Beethoven's piano concerto. "It is very special, it's intimate, playful and energetic while at the same time it casts Beethoven's moody and unpredictable shadow throughout," she explained. "It's also the first concerto ever written that begins with the soloist stating the principle theme and not the orchestra — that had never been done before in classical music. Beethoven was a such rebel and innovator! Of the five piano concerti he wrote, it's definitely my favorite."
Zanrosso is more than thrilled with the opportunity to perform in her old stomping grounds. "I am so happy to be playing in the Kootenays," she said. "I concertize a lot — I play across Canada and the States, and I never get to do something like this in the Kootenays, so I am really happy about that. I hope lots of people come." Tickets for the Trail concert can be purchased at the Charles Bailey Theatre, by phone at 250-368-9669 or at trail-arts.com.