Gotta have Faith: Philharmonic finally welcomes violinist with local ties to stage

It wouldn't seem that mechanical engineering and violin performance go together, though both involve technical skill.

But meet Faith Fang.

Fang was the 2019 valedictorian at the Academy of Technology, Engineering and Math — ATEMS to most folks. Since her graduation, she has continued her education at SMU, where she is a double major in the aforementioned mechanical engineering and music. And a math minor.

This weekend, Fang will add another mark to her resumé, performing for the first time as a soloist with a professional orchestra. She is the guest artist with her hometown Abilene Philharmonic.

Her performance comes as many college students in Texas have launched into studying for finals.

In a musical way, she will take one of her own Saturday in Abilene.

Back home again

Delayed by more than a year because of COVID-19, Fang will perform "Poeme" by Chausson and "Tzigane" by Ravel during the first half of a program titled "1812 Overture."

That's because the second half will feature two pieces by Tchaikovsky, including the first performance here of "Francesca da Rimini" with the rousing "1812 Overture" to end the evening.

This will be a magic moment for Fang.

She is returning home, eager to play for the orchestra that she enjoyed as a student. She was concertmaster for the Abilene Youth Orchestra and the 2018 bronze medalist in the Nelda Hodges Young Artist Competition.

Her brother, Frank, just last week followed his sister's academic lead. He was named ATEMS valedictorian.

Her father, Berlin, is director of instructional design at the Adams Center for Teaching and Learning at Abilene Christian University.

But it was her mother, Benli Xi, who introduced her to the violin at age 5.

"I wouldn't say it was much personal choice," she said, laughing.

Though her education is taking her toward one career, she is studying, too, how music will have its place in her life.

"My mom really wanted me to play violin in church and that's what got me started with lessons," said Fang, who also studied piano and voice. It was her high school experience with Revolution Strings that settled her with the violin.

She is ready

Philharmonic conductor David Itkin said the orchestra always looks at the medalists in its young artistic competition as guest performers.

Several have performed, including Abilene High graduate Halle Puckett as pianist in 2020.

More: Abilene pianist Halle Puckett: The key to performance is to 'create this moment'

Fang originally was to perform in January 2021, but her concert was moved to the current season due to pandemic schedule changes. She was to play Wieniawski's "Violin Concerto No. 2."

"I did," she said, when asked how much preparation she put into the concerto. Try two years.

But she understood that the 2020-21 Philharmonic season had to be tweaked.

And "I really wanted to move on ... to something that would really challenge me," Fang said. "Tzigane," she said, definitely stretched her as a violinist.

Itkin said it was her idea to change the piece, and he was all for it. He called the concerto a "charming" piece and one not done in Abilene during his tenure.

"I was great with it," Itkin said.

But "Tzigane" ups her game and, thus, the symphony's performance.

"As she develops as a player, you keep everything under your hands all the time," he said. She was ready for more.

A challenging piece, perhaps to showcase what she has learned at college and from playing in SMU's Meadows Symphony Orchestra.

She is studying with Alexander Sitkovetsky at SMU and after hearing "Tzigane" performed live, she wanted to tackle that particular work.

"It was really a mind-blowing piece for me and it kind of changed the game in terms of music," Fang said.

Sitkovetsky suggested "Poeme" as the piece to pair with it. Itkin said the pairing is not uncommon.

"It's just a beautiful piece," Fang said of the Chausson. "It has incredibly long melodic lines" and "reflects both love and sadness."

She loves the depth of character offered in one piece of music "and how many places you can take it. I think parts of it are pretty mysterious and parts of it are really incredible. It communicates so much that you can interpret in different ways."

"Tzigane" borrows from Gypsy music that resonated with Ravel and is fiery. It requires great skill on the violinist's part.

"It is difficult but there are so many treats and a lot of surprises," she said.

Itkin said these two pieces are "particularly artist sensitive" — open to soloist interpretation as much as any other violin piece.

Fang played the two pieces recently for Itkin "to get some idea of what she's thinking," he said. "Who's playing makes it a different piece. There are gigantic differences between one player and another in terms of pacing and the stylization."

Itkin said having a week's "warning" rather than 4 minutes in the concert hall was worth the preview.

"This piece, we could've survived, but it wouldn't have been that much fun if I had four minute's warning," he said. "She is spot-on in these pieces that are so insanely technically demanding."

Itkin paused.

"The audience would've loved the Weiniawski," he said, "but they're going to love this a lot more."

College life, and thinking ahead

Fang has enjoyed her college experience, learning more about engineering and becoming involved in campus life.

More: ATEMS valedictory speech: Faith Fang promotes passion

She has started "a few consulting clubs" and has been involved in ministry.

"It has been a really great time at SMU," she said. "There are a lot of opportunities to explore different fields."

And that's perfect for someone whose interests range.

It's a lot of work, and cuts into sleep, she admitted.

But, she said, "a lot of it is really enjoying what I do."

Prioritizing her time is a necessary skill she has honed.

It was at ATEMS that she was encouraged in engineering.

This is definitely what I came in intending to do but there also were so many opportunities in music at SMU than I could ever have expected," she said.

Asked about her emotions, returning as a more accomplished musician, Fang said her preparation — including playing before for SMU's music faculty — has her eager to play.

"I am honestly so thrilled to have the opportunity to come back to Abilene ... and perform for my loved ones," she said. "It means so much to have the support of the community. I already have heard from so many people who have bought tickets."

There always are some nerves ahead of performance, she said, but this time, there is more anticipation.

"I think I have played most of the nerves out. It's just more wanting to perform my best and knowing this is going to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It's going to be familiar to be back but very different to be on stage."

As for choosing a career, music is something "that's never going to die. Music is in my blood," Fang said. "I will definitely continue performing, possibly chamber music. I love to play in small groups.

"But as for a solo career, we'll see. We'll leave that up to whatever the future may hold."

Greg Jaklewicz is editor of the Abilene Reporter-News and general columnist. If you appreciate locally driven news, you can support local journalists with a digital subscription to ReporterNews.com.

If You Go

What: "1812 Overture," featuring former Abilenian Faith Fang on violin the first half of the concert

When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday

Where: Abilene Convention Center, 1100 North Sixth St.

Tickets: Range in price from $5 for students (age 6 to 18) to $42.50 (plus fees), depending on seating location

This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Gotta have Faith: Philharmonic welcomes violinist with local ties