She's been practicing for six months, six days a week, four hours a day.
Gabrielle Jacob is a 15-year-old violinist who will be performing for the first time as a soloist with the Prince George Symphony Orchestra during Masterworks Saturday night at Vanier Hall.
Gabrielle is the winner of the Integris Concerto regional competition presented in partnership with the Prince George Symphony Orchestra.
"I kinda decided on my own that I would do the whole thing with the PGSO," said Gabrielle of the Bruch - Violin Concerto No. 1 in G Minor. She said people suggested she play a portion of it but that didn't interest her.
"People thought it would be a lot to learn in six months but I decided to do it all and then reality kind of struck me that it was actually going to be kinda hard to learn it all but Jose has been helping me out a lot so that's really great and now here we are!"
Gabrielle has been studying with Jose Delgado-Guevara, artistic director and teacher at the Prince George Conservatory of Music, for the last five years and started playing when she was three years old as her mother, Carolyn, is a violinist and Suzuki violin teacher, too.
"When there is a young artist competition, the winner just plays one movement of a piece, instead of the three movements," said Delgado-Guevara. "I have been working with Gabrielle for five years now and right from the beginning I knew she had that special quality that you need to succeed when you're a musician, which is focus. She has that."
Delgado-Guevara is concert master for the upcoming show.
"It's a very interesting position to be in because she is my student," he said. "Ordinarily I would prefer to be in the audience to make sure my ulcer is in check but now I have to be playing while she's playing. It's a nice situation to be in as part of the supporting team for the soloist but at the same time I would just like to sit down and enjoy the whole process and not have to deal with my nerves while I am performing. It's not like I can be backstage to deal with my nerves in peace!"
It's nice to see a teenager who has a very clear goal, Delgado-Guevara added.
"She knows she is a violinist and there is no doubt in her mind and in her heart that that's what she wants to do," he said. "What I like about her is there is no rebelliousness. She is very mature in that sense. She is wonderful to work with because at this young age she already knows what it takes to be successful and she is willing to do it."
Gabrielle loves playing the violin.
"I love the balance between the technicality and musicality," she said. "I also love playing in groups -- sometimes it's a lot more fun than just playing on your own in a practice room."
Gabrielle, a Duchess Park secondary student, will be playing in the Prince George Music Festival with a trio and joins the Prince George Symphony Orchestra as a side-by-side member and at times plays with the Youth Orchestra.
"It's so much fun playing with professional musicians," said Gabrielle. "You definitely get to learn a lot. The Youth Orchestra gets to play really fun pieces. Right now we're playing a medley of Lady Gago music."
Gabrielle wants to thank her mom, Carolyn, for all her support and Jose for his help. Gabrielle is also grateful to Maureen Nielsen, who accompanies Gabrielle on piano and helps her understand the orchestration of the piece.
"Thank you to everyone for all their help," said Gabrielle. "I couldn't do it without you."
Tickets for Masterworks at Vanier Hall Saturday at 7:30 p.m. are at Studio 2880 or at the door.
