Cranston family performs with Black Violin

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Jo Fisher is used to chauffeuring her four children around to music lessons, soccer games and even calculus contests.

Sixteen-year-old Cranston High School East junior Eden Fisher missed her calculus competition at URI last week for the opportunity to join her siblings and 29 other student musicians from around the state in the Black Violin Encore at the nearly sold out First Works event at Vets Auditorium. Eden was selected as one of two lead violin players for the encore. Sarah Kim from Community Music Works knew of Eden’s talent and chose her, along with Marienne Diallo of Providence, during the rehearsal.

Harrison Fisher is a 10-year-old 4th grader from E.S. Rhodes Elementary School. He started playing the viola when he was five. Older sister Helena is a sixth grader at Park View Middle School. She has been playing the violin since she was six. Older brother Elliot is a ninth grader at Cranston East and has been playing viola since he was eight.

We caught up with them in between their final rehearsal and the concert, where they were eagerly awaiting having pizza before the show with the rest of the performers. All four children take private lessons and participate in their school music programs.

“For a while it was after-school programs,” Mom said. “But the school committee has restored the music budget.”

When I asked how many hours a day they practiced, there were some giggles from the group.

“Not enough,” said their mother, who plays bass in a local band called The Persisters, a group of six “wives and mothers” who recently performed at Cranston’s Pub on Park.

All four Fisher children were excited about playing with Black Violin, who they had seen last year at the Zeiterion in New Bedford. Black Violin had played the previous night at the historic Apollo Theatre in Harlem.

FirstWorks continues its 15th year of introducing both young students and adults to world-class artistic performers such as Black Violin and will continue its dedication to the arts on Wednesday, April 17 at 7:30 p.m. at the Providence Performing Arts Center, with Complexions Contemporary Ballet presenting “From Bach to Bowie.”

America’s first truly multicultural ballet company will feature “Star Dust,” a tribute to rock icon David Bowie, which takes an array of Bowie’s hits and lays a visual imprint inspired by his unique personas to create a rock-inspired ballet.

Tickets, ranging from $25 to $74.50, are available at the PPAC Box Office.

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