Kate’s 2¢: “The violin conspiracy” by Brendan Slocumb

“The violin conspiracy” by Brendan Slocumb

Kate’s 2¢: There is a plethora of in-depth biographies of authors and reviews of their books, that state the title, author, published date, and genre; as well as,     describing what the book is about, setting, and character(s), so, Kate’s 2¢ merely shares my thoughts about what I read.  I’m just saying…

   This is a wonderful Horatio Alger type of story. It is well written with an interesting narrative full of history, love, and personal anecdotes. I especially like hearing the various orchestra backed violin music. Awesome. Thank you Penguin Random House Audio  and the NLS reader J.D. Jackson .

A few take aways:

— Stand up for yourself, but, always respectfully.

— Ray’s life changed, because someone reached out across the gulf and touched him.

— “We’re here for a reason….It is to throw little torches out to lead people through the dark.” Goldberg

— Work twice as hard as everyone else, stand tall and treat others with respect, and stay his own sweet self.

— I just encouraged what was already there.

— Slocumb: “ as a teacher of young kids…for many of my students, I would be the first black man they’d actually meet in person. The impression I leave them with, hopefully, will stay with them for years to come.”

— Alone, we are a solitary violin, a lonely flute, a trumpet singing in the dark, together, we are a symphony.

From his website:

Meet Brendan Slocumb

   Brendan Nicholaus Slocumb was born in Yuba City, California and was raised in Fayetteville, North Carolina. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro with a degree in music education, concentrations on Violin and Viola. While at UNCG, Brendan was the concertmaster for the University Symphony orchestra and served as the principal violist. He performed with numerous small chamber ensembles, including flute and clarinet choirs, and in the BESK string quartet.

   For the past twenty-three years, he has been a public and private school music educator from kindergarten through twelfth grade, teaching general music, orchestra and guitar ensembles. His students were often chosen for district and regional orchestras. In 2005, Brendan was named Teacher of the Year for Robert E. Lee High School; has been named to Who’s Who of American teachers, and is a Nobel Teacher of distinction. Brendan also serves as an educational consultant for the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.   Music has always played a major part of Brendan’s life. He believes that it’s a life-saving force, and a gift we should always offer our children. When he was nine, he started playing violin through a public school music program. It actually saved his life. Friends he grew up with are today sitting in jail; when they were out running the streets, he was in rehearsals. When they were breaking into people’s houses, he was practicing Dvorak and Mozart. His violin opened the door to opportunity, and he ran through it. 

   Through music, Brendan developed a work ethic that he now tries to instill in his students so that they too can experience the joys of what music can do for us all. Each student is unique. No two kids learn the same way. Not everyone will go on to become world famous musicians, but everyone can learn to appreciate and love music, and to find new ways of communicating. Meeting each student where he or she is, and taking them farther than they thought possible, is what Brendan has always strived to do.  

   As a musician, Brendan has performed on violin with the Washington Metropolitan Symphony, the McLean Symphony, the Prince George’s Philharmonic, and the Alexandria Symphony. He currently serves as the concertmaster for the NOVA-Annandale Symphony Orchestra. Brendan has been a frequent adjudicator and guest conductor for several district and regional orchestras throughout North Carolina and Virginia. He also performs chamber music with members of the Annandale symphony. He maintains a private music studio teaching lessons to students on violin, guitar and piano. 

   He is the founder of the nonprofit organization, Hands Across the Sea, based in the Philippines. After touring the Philippines with the Northern Virginia Chamber Ensemble and witnessing firsthand the conditions that many of the young music students and their families endure, Brendan founded the Hands Across the Sea to offer support to the Berea School of the Arts in Manila, by providing instruments, lessons, and monetary support. The organization also supplements school supplies and dental and medical assistance. 

   In his spare time, Brendan enjoys writing, exercising, collecting comic books and action figures, and performing with his rock band, Geppetto’s Wüd.

From NLS/BARD/LOC:

The violin conspiracy DB106851

Slocumb, Brendan. Reading time: 12 hours, 6 minutes.

Read by J.D. Jackson.

Mystery and Detective Stories

Ray McMillian has always known his dream of being a world-class violinist is a long shot due to his being Black and from North Carolina. But when his great-great-grandfather’s fiddle turns out to be a Stradivarius, he reaches for the stars. When it’s stolen on the eve of a competition, Ray must find his beloved Strad. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2022.

Downloaded: April 15, 2022

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