Artist of the Issue: Zach Blake ’19

A highlight of this chamber work was when Vivace made a CD and toured the Bay Area in California. The Vivace delegation consisted of two cellists and six violinists. Blake noted that Vivace’s repertoire included their own arrangements as well as several classical works. “We played contemporary songs such as Fields of Gold, arranged as a cello duo, and Smooth Criminal, but we also performed older music including several Spanish tangos.” He shared that Vivace, “played for a number of charity concerts in the Bay Area as well as a couple of local music schools for under-privileged children.” Blake described it as an incredible experience to travel with a group of musicians as passionate as himself. Blake said, “It was great to be able to play for young kids and show them that classical instruments aren’t just for ‘serious’ classical music.”