October 21, 2009

News Release

TISD Student Continues Musical Mission of Peace

The Mark O’Connor Strings Camp in New York, New York -  From left: Jessica Emery and Jonathan Russell 2009 violin recipients; Sam Weisler and Ian Scott – 2008 recipients who are passing on the violins; and Mark O’Connor (speaking at the microphone)

A Tyler ISD student’s passion for music has earned her the recognition of being an exceptional violist.  Robert E. Lee High School’s Jessica Emery is the recipient of the 2009 Daniel Pearl Memorial Violin.  The award is in memory of Daniel Pearl the violinist, fiddler and Wall Street Journal reporter who was murdered in Pakistan in 2002. The purpose of granting this award each year is to continue Pearl’s legacy through a musical mission of peace. Emery has now received the violin and will have full use of the handcrafted instrument for one year.

Emery attended the Mark O’ Conner Strings conference this summer in New York where she was named one of only two recipients of the Memorial Violins.  Recipients of the Memorial are awarded this honor at the Mark O’Connor Strings Conference where exceptional violists attend each summer. 

“I am humbled by the thought of all the extraordinary violinists who have played this violin before me and I am truly honored to be given the duty to continue sharing his story through this amazing instrument called the ‘Peace Violin,’ ” said Emery. “The moment this blessing was given to me, I felt that my life had changed, and I am inspired with a higher purpose to do something good in the world by spreading a message of peace, hope, and harmony.”

In November 2002, Jonathan Cooper, a well respected violin maker from Maine, had a wonderful idea for honoring Daniel Pearl.  To continue Daniel Pearl's legacy through a musical mission of peace, Jon crafted a work of art - the Daniel Pearl Memorial Violin -- and presented it to Mark O'Connor at a Boston concert in honor of Pearl -- with the intention to have it presented to a talented violinist attending O'Connor's Fiddle Camp. In 2005, a second violin was anonymously commissioned so Daniel Pearl's memory and mission of peace could be spread twofold.

Emery will participate in the 8^th Annual Daniel Pearl World Music Days and other performances throughout the year.  She is scheduled to perform in the Pearl Peace Project Memorial Concert on April 17, 2010 at Robert E. Lee High School.

Emery started playing the classical violin at age 7 and the piano at age 9. Currently a junior at Robert E. Lee High School, she holds the position of Concertmistress of their Varsity Orchestra. She has been competing in East Texas Regional Orchestra competitions since 2005, and in 2007 was selected as the Concertmistress for the Middle School All Region Orchestra. In 2008 - 2009, Emery received second chair in the High School All Region Orchestra, and received a first division rating in Region and State Solo and Ensemble Competitions for both solo and quartet performances. She has participated in Stephen F. Austin State University’s Honors Orchestra, the Piney Woods Camerata, and has attended Stephen F. Austin State University and Texas Tech University Summer Orchestra Camps. Most recently, Emery was named Concertmistress for the High School Orchestra at the 2009 Stephen F. Austin State University Summer Strings Camp.

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