A person needs to put their heart and soul into their music, and when they do, it produces sound that is profound and meaningful. This is the theory that Claudia and George Evanoff have in mind as they support their children’s pursuits to become professional musicians.
Jannik and Alina Evanoff, 14 and 12, have a bright future as musicians, and were recently accepted into the Hawai‘i Youth Symphony for the 2022-2023 season.
They will be a part of the upcoming Winter and Spring performances with HYS.
“I wouldn’t have my kids do this if they didn’t want to,” Claudia said. “You have to play music from the heart. It sounds different when it is forced, which is not good, and sounds mechanical.”
Alina is not only a talented violinist and pianist, but also has experience in performing arts and musical theater. She has been in the Kaua‘i Community Players production of “Sweeney Todd” as well as Hawai‘i Children’s Theatre production of “Moana Jr.” which was based off of the Disney film “Moana.”
In “Moana Jr.” she played the ocean, which she enjoyed because it was one of the most unique roles she has done. It involved dancing and using fans and other props.
“I’ve enjoyed getting into the orchestra,” Alina said of her acceptance into HYS. “I was not quite sure if I was going to be accepted and it was really a great feeling knowing that I will get to be there in the orchestra. I think that was the most impressive moment for me.”
She practiced for about two weeks before her audition.
“I practice one hour and fifteen minutes on the piano and then an hour and a half on the violin. I do that everyday,” she said. “There’s always something different to work on, there’s always something new, and I actually really like practicing.”
Often, she thinks of some advice a mentor has shared.
“My teacher has told me it’s the journey that counts. I have learned so much from auditioning and achieving my goal,” she said.
As for Jannik, Claudia says he’s always been interested in competition.
“We always apply to the best and the best that he can apply to,” Claudia said.
Jannik took the opportunity after his sister played a violin solo to play one of his own, and then followed by showing off his piano skills.
Amazingly, he was able to play piano just as well sitting upright as upside down. He even played “Piano Man” by Billy Joel as part of his “at home” performance.
“A big experience for me is going to O‘ahu to be a part of the Master Class with Jeremy Denk, who is a fantastic pianist,” Jannik said. “He taught me so much there. It’s completely different than having a lesson. You play for a big audience only to get ripped to shreds by an even better pianist.”
A solo pianist, composer, and violinist, he also was the Hawai‘i State winner of the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) piano competition in 2020. In 2019, Jannik was the third prize winner of the Hawai‘i Steinway Piano Competition.
“It will be different (playing in HYS) because I have played with the Kaua‘i Community College orchestra before, I was head of the second violins,” he said. “Kaua‘i is a small island, O‘ahu is out there with big names and big places. Being able to do this is going to be really fun. There’s going to be a bigger audience and bigger orchestra. There’s going to be more instruments. It’s going to be big and magnificent and really fun.”
Alina attends Myron B. Thompson Academy, while Jannik attends Hawai‘i Technology Academy. They are the middle children in a family of five kids, who are also musicians.
Both Alina and Jannik have been performing and playing instruments since a young age, with Jannik started practicing violin when he was 3, using a small, child-sized 1/32 violin. Alina gladly says that her brother has always inspired her to play and pursue her musical passions, and she started practicing violin when she was 5.
The pair will be playing at the Hawai‘i Convention Center in Honolulu on O‘ahu on Dec. 4 and April 23, 2023.
Alina will be performing in the Hawai‘i Youth Symphony Concert Orchestra. Her brother will be a part of the Hawai‘i Youth Symphony 2, and he will be performing on May 7, 2023.
