World-class musicians to take the stage at Valley Voices concert

The Valley Voices need your help. The singing sensation have been going since 2000 and are hoping to raise $7,000 to purchase new music, risers and storage. The 50-member chorus performs four free concerts each year and at venues throughout the Flathead Valley, like local nursing homes and the Conrad Mansion. Two years ago, the Voices even took the stage at New York City’s Carnegie Hall.

To generate funds the Valley Voices will be hosting a free performance at 3 p.m., this Sunday, April 29, at Risen Christ Catholic Church in Kalispell, 65 West Evergreen Dr. In addition to the Valley Voices, the lineup includes internationally-recognized pianist Wei Pai and world-renowned violinist Wai Mizutani, who will also be donating one of his violins to be auctioned. The privately-made instrument is modeled after the famous Lady Blunt by Stradivarius which fetched a staggering $15.9 million at auction in 2011.

In the two years that Mizutani has owned the violin, it has traveled with him to performances as far off as Taiwan and Canada.

“I want the people to enjoy the same thing I’m enjoying,” he said when asked why he decided to make the donation.

One of Mizutani’s talented violin students, Lauren Welch, 11, will also be featured in Sunday’s concert. Welch has been studying violin for a little over a year and is the youngest person involved in the pit orchestra at Flathead Valley Community College, where she’s been playing for the production of “Guys and Dolls,” Mizutani said.

Among her offerings will be Vivaldi’s “Summer” and “Millionaire’s Hoedown” by Herman Clebanoff.

Also not to be missed is Pai’s piano playing.

“I’ve been living in the Valley for 10 years,” Mizutani said. “I haven’t found a single pianist in this Valley that could play these pieces because of the difficulty.”

Pai began playing piano at the age of six and studied for eight years in Russia before returning to the U.S for further study.

Rounding out the list of talent will be Missoula-based blues artist, Andre Floyd, and a’capella group, Those Guys. In addition to the silent auction, Valley Voices director Allyson Kuechmann said they’ll be auctioning off homemade pies and even a pair of diamond earrings.

Reporter Mackenzie Reiss may be reached at 758-4433 or mreiss@dailyinterlake.com.