Cellist soloes; grandmother backs up at March 7 concert
RELATIVELY SPEAKING
by William Thompson
LW contributor
When Hank Taylor performs a cello concerto March 7, his grandmother won’t be in the audience. She’ll be on stage playing along with him.
Taylor will be soloing with the Leisure World Orchestra and his grandmother, Margie Masterson, a cellist herself, will be accompanying him, along with the full orchestra on March 7 at 1 p.m. in Clubhouse 2. Admission is free, but donations will be collected.
Taylor, who earned degrees in music performance and composition from the prestigious University of Indiana Music School, will perform Max Bruch’s “Kol Nidrei,” an 1881 cello concerto inspired by the prayer delivered on Yom Kippur, the Jewish day of atonement. His grandmother, who received her music performance degree from Occidental College before being recruited into the Long Beach Symphony, will be his section mate behind him.
Both Taylor and Masterson are products and educators in the Long Beach Unified School system. Both started cello lessons when they were 10 years old. Masterson developed her musicianship at Wilson Classical High School. Taylor continued his high school studies at Long Beach Polytechnic High School. After her college graduation, Masterson taught in the Long Beach schools. Taylor continues that path, teaching cello at four schools, and preparing to help launch the district’s Neighborhood Music School after-school program for disadvantaged youths.
Taylor has already developed an impressive resume. At 15, he made his solo debut with the Long Beach Symphony performing Saint-Saëns’ “The Swan.” While studying at Indiana, he performed in chamber music festivals across the country, composed works for string ensembles and solo cello, and mentored young composers at Indiana’s Jacobs Composition Academy.
Taylor’s grandmother, in addition to her eight years performing with the Leisure World Orchestra, still serves on the Long Beach Symphony Board of Directors.
Both Masterson and Taylor will play in the Leisure World Orchestra’s cello section for additional works by Telemann, Rimsky-Korsakov, Gershwin, Bach and Glière.
Leisure World Orchestra guest cellist Hank Taylor (r) re - hearses backstage with his grandmother, cellist Margie Masterson, for the group's March 7 concert.
