Simon Sinfonietta's Marimba Soloist

Pius Cheung, marimba

Pius Cheung, the Chinese/Canadian marimba virtuoso, stayed with us in Cape Cod for his performance with the Simon Sinfonietta under the baton of Maestro Stephen Simon, husband and music director of Simon Sinfonietta, L'Orchestre des Portes Rouge, and Maestro Classics. Pius brought Eriko Daimo, the Japanese marimbist. They both adored Woods Hole (who doesn't???) and Eriko delighted in our restored Japanese tea house. My sister Gretchen Warren, champion rose grower and floral designer, has been studying ikebana seriously for several years and when she and Eriko visited the tea house, Eriko said it was like a trip to Japan. Her mother is a master ikebana teacher in Japan.

Pius played the Creston Concerto for Marimba masterfully. It is an incredibly challenging work for both the marimba and the orchestra, but the audience marveled at the technical prowess and beauty of his playing. There was a standing ovation the moment the last notes were played.