night day spartanscrollentertainment
04.09.2010
13
All photos courtesy of KEVIN CHU
Drew Tretick has played violin pieces in darkened, quiet concert halls around the world. So what is he doing performing on the bright, busy streets of the Downtown Disney district? BY KEVIN CHU ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
Tretick plays with conviction, pulling his melody and luring in those from all walks of life, who soon stand transfixed by the mesmerizing sounds. Overhead, people Drew Tretick usually tunes his violin whilst spotlighted step out of their rooms in the Disney resort overlooking the from all angles in front of a large audience that sits in the dark, street and listen. Out of almost thin air, Tretick has created anticipating his first note as a full string orchestra sits ready an audience. Beside him, in collapsible camping chairs, sit Sharon behind him. Tonight, however, Tretick stands on a busy sidewalk Cox and her husband. Their date nights consist of at the Downtown Disney District, tuning and setting up traveling to Downtown Disney every Friday and Saturday, the equipment as passersby flow past him in droves. A and listening to Tretick’s beautiful renditions. “I like him,” said Cox. “I have heard him perform indoors singular spotlight glow is self-affixed, and his orchestra is before, and of course, there are better acoustics, but we playing from tracks on his iPod. “I just hope that I do my best for everyone that comes to like to come out here and watch him perform.” The Coxes are some of the loyal admirers the [performance],” said Tretick. “As a performer, you have who come out to hear Tretick. His to expect anything.” A world-renowned classical violinist, Tretick learned to helper, Debbie Watson, was one of play the violin at age 5 and has been playing professionally those fans until she was asked to since his teens. He played at venues around the world, help sell CDs in 2007. Since then, shared the stage with renowned performers such as she has seen cavalcades of fans come Tony Bennett, Andrea Bocelli, the London Symphony and go. “He has fans from Oregon and Washington Orchestra and Stevie Wonder and has been included on albums with Glenn Campbell and Chris Isaak. He that come just to watch him play,” said Watson. performed his Master’s recital at Julliard on an electric “They will plan their vacations around his schedule. violin, the first ever to be performed on an electric If they rent rooms at the Disney Hotel, they will instrument, and has served as a member on several request the rooms overlooking his performance musical boards of education. As a result, Tretick has area.” His playing draws more people, and after collected a large following of fans and admirers around playing three pieces, Tretick speaks into the the world. “I like meeting and sharing my music with people of mike on his violin, “I will stop for a minute if you want to say hello or have an album signed” The other cultures,” he said. Tretick is no stranger to “street performing.” Before crowd disperses with short applause, leaving he got the job at Disney, he was performing at Fashion a line of people holding albums and waiting to meet him. Island in Irvine and swap “It just gives me meets in Orange County. He a chance to meet was discovered and brought my audience,” said to the musician-filled streets I just hope that I do my best Tretick. “At a formal of Downtown Disney District for everyone that comes to concert, people only go by Disney talent scout Stan the [performance].” to meet me after the Freese in 2001. Now, Tretick performance. I get to plays at the district every meet a lot of interesting week, Friday to Sunday, from Drew Tretick people here.” 6-11 p.m., unless he has a Concert Violinist As Tretick greets prescheduled performance. fans, his enthusiasm is Tonight, however, Tretick evident. He takes time might as well be a stranger to the passing clusters, another faceless name. To reel in the to chat with everyone who waits and even recognizes crowd, a true audience, Tretick must catch their wandering regulars. As Lon Lease walks by, Tretick calls him attentions from the bright lights around them and the cups aside, remarking at how Lease had just been there the day before. Lease says that he played violin for 10 of Jamba Juice in their hands. So, with a draw of his bow across the strings, he does years and “walked away” after graduation; he credits just that. As the iPod recording of the London Symphony Tretick for inspiring him to pick the instrument Orchestra’s “Unchained Melody” drifts from the speakers, up again.
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“He really wants to talk to everyone who watches him,” said Lease. “Sometimes, when it is a busy night and there is a long line of people waiting to meet him, people will get tired of waiting and start to walk away. If [Tretick] sees them, he will call them back and try to get to them as quickly as possible.” As the night goes on and Tretick continues to perform, more fans, new and old, stop to watch. Gary Hongslo of Santa Ana sits down on the sidewalk near Tretick and watches him weave notes together. Soon, Hongslo’s wife and children join him and together they enjoy Tretick’s performance. “I come down to watch Drew once every month,” said Hongslo. “I bring my family when I can, but sometimes I just come down by myself on my bike.” Bob Murray, principal of Chino Valley Christian School, is working with Tretick to arrange for Tretick to perform at the school. “He is a teacher, so he is interested in teaching as well as performing,” said Murray. “He wants to play for them, have them play for him and then he wants to mentor as well. Other musicians get to a certain point in their careers when they just want to sign autographs and then say, ‘Okay, I’m done. I’m leaving.’ Drew wants to meet the kids and pass on his passion for music, which is amazing.” As the clock winds down to 11 p.m., Tretick plays the final note of “Cinema Pardiso” and welcomes the crowd to greet him again. Tonight, and as in every performance, Tretick receives a standing ovation. And, as in every performance, his passion for music, his talent on violin and his charm are all evident.
TWILIGHT SERENADE: (TOP LEFT) Drew Tretick begins a weekly performance in front of the Naples Pizzeria in the Downtown Disney District as the sun sets. A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC: (TOP RIGHT) Lights come on as Tretick plays into the night. FOCUS: (ABOVE) While playing, Tretick closes his eyes as a means of concentrating and avoiding distractions. ‘GOOD CROWD’: (LEFT) Tretick performs for an intrigued crowd gathering in front of him as the night goes on.