Former Iowa girl returns as classical violinist

KALONA — Violinist Hoi Ting Davidson is an active performer and educator in the greater Houston region, but she has her roots in rural Iowa.

Davidson returns to southeastern Iowa Oct. 14 with The Hymn Project. The performance begins at 7 p.m. at Celebration Hall, 1421 540th St. SW in Kalona.

With a background in classical performance, Davidson holds a bachelor’s degree in music from the Eastman School of Music and a masters from the University of Texas at Austin where she was concertmaster and concertino soloist with the UT Symphony Orchestra, according to a news release from Bad Angle Events.

Davidson is currently member of the River Oaks Quartet which performs regularly as part of the international Candlelight Concert series and at other events. She also plays with Quartetrachord, which performs its own compositions and arrangements in addition to works in the classical genre.

Davidson’s freelance career has led her to perform across Austria and China and throughout the United States. She was lead violinist with the Two Cellos’ tour and for the SXSW Amazon Prime promotion of the popular TV series “Good Omens.”

In addition to performing, Davidson teaches violin at the Paganini School of Music and at the Small Victories Foundation, a nonprofit organization that helps people with traumatic brain injuries, said the news release.

In her spare time, Davidson works on her passion projects — studying Argentine tango music and composing.

The Hymn Project is centered on bringing the beauty and depth of hymns to string ensemble and exploring how these old traditions pass down and invite people experience something greater than themselves.

The musicians will perform original arrangements inspired by the hymns as well as music of other artists who brought the spirit of their hymns and folk traditions to string ensemble.

Works include “Appalachian Waltz” by Edgar Meyer and arrangements from the Danish String Quartet.

General admission tickets are $15 in advance, $5.00 for students and $20.00 at the door.

For more information and tickets go to www.badangleevents.org