A Delicate Touch: Hip Violinist to Bring Adele's Sounds to NCPA

Irish violinist Gregory Harrington isn't your average classical music performer. This globe trotting musician teaches at the New York high school on which Gossip Girl was based and can crank out soulful melodies from "Schindler's List," "Scent of a Woman" and even Adele. We sat down with him to talk about his upcoming China tour, the future of classical music and more.

the Beijinger: You’ve toured all over the world – from Carnegie Hall to the Oriental Arts Center in Shanghai. So what brings you back to China?

Gregory Harrington: I had a wonderful tour in China about three years ago, and I found the experience and the culture fascinating. It was so different from any of the other cultures that I had experienced whether that be North or South America, Europe or down in New Zealand, so I think there was an attraction and curiosity to experience different parts of the country again and immerse myself in the Chinese cultural landscape.

TBJ: What are you most excited about coming back?

GH: I think playing in some of the beautiful halls that China has is one aspect that I am looking forward to again. Also, there is a respect for classical music that is quite unique from other countries and there is a sense of openness to learning about western music and what it has to offer which I find appealing.

TBJ: Any interesting stories or mishaps you had last time you were on tour?

GH: I think the audience reaction last time was more than I had expected – and something that I really enjoyed. I had sold out some of the venues that I was performing and in one midweek concert close to Shanghai in particular – it was a beautiful hall – I had expected about 500 at it... however a little under 2,000 showed up for the performance, so they were standing in the back of the auditorium and in the aisles. For the second half, I invited many of them on stage to sit around us for the performance. So it was a lovely experience to have the concert hall so very full with audience members.

What was nice was that about 25 turned up the following morning to my hotel lobby at 6am to see me off for my flight, and truthfully, it was a really magical experience because you realize that you have musically connected in a very special way.

tbj: The stereotype is that all Asians – especially Chinese – play the violin or the piano. Do you find there’s more of an audience for classical music here than at other venues?

GH: Well, this is the first time playing in Beijing (two performances at the National Center for the Performing Arts and the Sun Rise Music Hall at Beihang University), so I am really looking forward to it admittedly. University audiences have a different sensibility and enthusiasm that is different to the regular concert attending audiences, so I think there is a difference in that respect.

TBJ: You’re also an orchestra director at two schools in New York. What’s it like teaching at all-girls’ school? Anything like Gossip Girl?

GH: I must say that conducting the orchestras is something I really enjoy doing. There can be wonderful communication between you and your students in rehearsals and in performing in concerts. I think music in the classroom is such an important aspect of education and so important in a student's development. So I always want to give them and try to instill a love for classical music and what performing on an instrument can be like, and in doing that, incorporate the more popular classical pieces with classical arrangements of what they are listening to in mainstream media. That way, it can be very enjoyable and rewarding on both sides.

Gossip Girl? Well, it was written about one of the schools that I teach at but truthfully, it’s a very Hollywood-influenced vision of it. I’m lucky in that the students that I teach are really great and have wonderful enthusiasm.

TBJ: You've performed for some pretty famous people, including the NBA and American Vice President Joe Biden. What were those experiences like?

GH: They were really phenomenal experiences! I have performed for the NBA many times and a few months ago for the vice president. I had the good fortune that I could share the experience with my dad as he was at the Vps performance and the Brooklyn Nets performance.

The first time that I performed for the NBA was a really special. It was for the Atlanta Hawks for their playoff game. Sound check was at 4pm when there was no one in the Philips Arena. When I was done and was waiting in the green room and hearing all the fans pack into the stadium and make so much noise was quite nerve wracking.

When game time arrived, and I walked out in the middle of the arena, all eyes on me, 10 network TV cameras on me as well as 20,000 people, my heart was in my mouth until I played the first note. Then it was all fine.

After performing for the vice president, I had a wonderful conversation with him afterwards. We spoke about family and music, and at the end of the conversation VP Biden finished our conversation with "Greg, if I had your talent, I'd be President."

TBJ: What are your top five classical music picks for people new to the genre?

GH: Never an easy question but I would go with these five:

• "Chaconne" for solo violin by Bach
• Piano Concerto No. 2 by Rachmaninov
• Clare de Lune by Debussy
• Libertango by Piazzolla
• Schindler's List by John Williams (my recording of course!!)

TBJ: If you were stranded on a desert island and could only bring the music of one composer, who would you bring?

GH: Thats a tricky one as there are so many fantastic compositions and composers out there. But if I had to choose one would be a tight decision between the South American nuevo tango style of Astor Piazzolla and J.S. Bach. Probably would have to go with Bach. It's all there – just really incredible music from start to finish – just listen to the “Chaconne” for solo violin, what a marvelous piece!

TBJ: What’s on your iPod right now?

GH: Its an eclectic mix – I rarely listen to classical when I am relaxing or when I'm not working – so at the moment its everything from the Script to the Rolling Stones to Radiohead, U2 and of course a bit of Frank Sinatra!

TBJ: What kind of instrument are you playing on now? Ever have any complications traveling with it?

GH: I am playing on a wonderful instrument by a German maker called Peter Greiner. It was made in 2007, and it's a fantastic instrument. The famous soloist Christian Tetzlaff gave up using both of his Stradivarius instruments in favor of using Greniers as his concert and recording instruments. It is on generous loan from a individual sponsor.

Never any complications checking it in on a plane (yet!), but if it was a cello that would be a different story!

TBJ: Your tour really includes everything: from Bach to John Williams and Adele. Why do you think it’s important to mix it up?

GH: I think it’s important to mix it up because we are at a stage where we are missing an opportunity to reach a generation with classical music. With technology now, the younger generation isn’t getting the exposure to classical music or the classical genre because there is too much instant gratification on social media, so when you have an opportunity to make it fresh and catch a demographic it is worth the effort and risk.

Check out Greg’s tour, which runs Aug 25, 7.30pm at the National Center for Performing Arts and Aug 26, 7pm at the Sunrise Concert Hall at Beihang University.

Read more about the artist and check out samples of Greg’s music here or here.

Photos courtesy of Gregory Harrington.