Tuesday, August 28, 2001
VIOLINIST TUNES UP FOR PRODIGIOUS CAREER
By Rebecca Kelley
Temecula boy plans to be a world –class musician and composer. At 10 years old he has already written a concerto and has worked with some of the worlds finest violinists including Isaac Stern. Currently he works with Dr Seymour Rubenstein. “I have every expectation that Antonio will become an outstanding instrumentalist. His gifts are very broad and expand beyond classical to jazz, pop and electric violin. “I teach him to be global in his approach to music.” Antonio practices three hours each weekday and four hours a day during the weekend. “I have learned from playing the violin that nobody really cares if you are talented. It is the work that unfolds the gift,” Antonio said. He also works with teachers from The Julliard School in New York. Soon there will be a two-way television system allows him to see his teachers and they can watch him play as well. Antonio is also adept on piano and organ and uses them to compose. The Music Prodigy Foundation has helped Antonio’s parents, Louis and Greta Pontarelli, nurture their son’s talents with a recording studio in their home. There Antonio can record CDs that will benefit the foundation, which assists children around the country. “We want Antonio to reach his highest potential so he can empower other people to make a difference in the world,” Greta Pontarelli said. “Music is a prayer without words. It feeds the soul, which awakens the heart and creates an inspiration of hope and healing,” Antonio plans to be not only a world-class musician and composer, but also an entertainment executive. Greta Pontarelli said she knew Antonio would be a musician when she saw his passion at age 6 when he played his own composition of “Maleguena” and took first place for violins at the Inland Valley String competition. “It was after I won that competition that I know I wanted to be a violinist,” Antonio said. Last September Louis Pontarelli, 42, was diagnosed with acute spinal leukemia and was hospitalized at the Norris/USC Cancer Research Hospital for 145days. Doctors performed a stem cell and bone marrow transplant and Louis has been in remission since March. He said his son’s violin-playing was a key element to his recovery. Every day, Antonio would go to his father’s bedside and play in his room for three hours. When the hospital staff heard his music, they invited him to perform for the entire hospital at Christmastime last year. “It’s the Mozart Effect,” Antonio said. “When I played the violin for my father, I know it would help him. I remembered the story of a man who had lost consciousness due to a brain tumor. When they filled his room with nothing but Mozart’s music, it wasn’t long before the tumor had shrunk and he recovered.” When Louis watched his son play, he glows with admiration. “I have always wanted to be the kind of musician that Antonio is,” Louis said. “The violin is the closest instrument to the human voice.” Antonio’s parents also have extraordinary talents. Louis, a former hospital executive, was an international karate champion seven years ago. Greta is an accomplished dancer who performed in and choreographed productions on the East Coast. Much like his parents, Antonio loves competition. He took first place in the Inland Valley Youth Strong Competition in 1998, 1999, and 2000. He most recently won second place in the 15 and under Tri-County Youth String Competition last June. “I love to play on stage. It really shows that I have been practicing. I am never nervous because I always feel prepared. I feel like I am on top of the world when I perform,” Antonio said. Antonio has performed at many different venues. Most recently, this month he was a featured fiddle soloist on stage at the La Jolla Arts Festival with Mark O’Connor, the two-time Grammy winning composer/violinist. O’Connor is widely recognized for his violin solos on the sound-track of the movie, “The Patriot.” Pontarelli has been particularly inspired by O’Connor’s music. “Mark’s genius has been instrumental in the blossoming of Antonio’s gift,” Greta Pontarelli said. O’Connor said Antonio has accomplished mush for someone so young. “But what is more important for Antonio and really to all of those he will come across on his musical journey is what he is going to accomplish by touching even more lives. Antonio already has this on his mind. He knows how powerful music is and he knows that his music, like all young children’s music touches our soul.”