Stettler Variety Showcase’s 2022-2023 season will be continuing on Jan. 29 when Robert Uchida and Rafael Hoekman come to town.
According to the duo, the program they are bringing to Stettler will have “something for everyone.”
Music performed will range from classics, original works, and even some folk music.
“Expect to have a lot of fun,” said Uchida, in a recent interview.
Uchida and Hoekman are both veterans of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, where they met eight years ago. According Hoekman, it did not take long before the two were playing together as a duo as well.
“We’ve played as a duo for six or seven years,” said Hoekman.
Uchida agreed, saying “it’s been great; we’ve learned a lot.”
According to the duo, they’ve both been highly involved in music from young ages. Uchida recounted a story he was told how he saw a musician on the children’s television program Sesame Street and afterwards he told his parents he wanted to do that. His parents agreed, and got him into violin lessons.
“I started playing when I was four,” said Uchida.
According to Hoekman, most people who learn to play string instruments start very young.
Hoekman says his family was fairly musical, and he started playing instruments when he was three years old.
“As a child, I had no choice in the matter; it was just something you did,” Hoekman said, with a laugh.
“It is a very rich life.”
Hoekman’s expertise is the cello.
According to Hoekman, some of the music they will be performing is traditional played with a piano accompanying the violin; however, friends within the orchestra helped adapt the music for a violin and cello duet which adds “another dynamic dimension” to the pieces.
Uchida and Hoekman are currently touring as part of the Prairie Debut’s Close to Home Artists tour.
Tickets are available at Grate Kitchen and will also be available at the door for both the afternoon and evening shows at the Stettler Performing Arts Centre.
For more information, check out www.stettlershowcase.com.