Bringing Music To the Other Side of the World

May 25, 2018 / Blog
By Liz Rothaus Bertrand

It’s hard to imagine how Alan Black finds time for all of his musical projects: he’s a prolific performer and educator, who has led many community projects supporting local artists throughout his 32 year tenure as Principal Cellist for the Charlotte Symphony.

Yet Black’s work is also reaching far beyond the Queen City, especially in Crete—the largest of the Greek islands. What started as a side project has led to an unexpected adventure, spanning the high tech and the ancient world and forging a special cross-cultural friendship.

TEACHING VIRTUALLY

The adventure began several years ago, when one of Black’s students, an 8-year-old boy named Angel Zaimakis, and his family suddenly had to leave Charlotte and return to their native Greece. Angel had been studying cello privately with Black for two years and his parents really wanted him to continue. They proposed lessons via Skype, something which Black had never attempted, but agreed to try.

Since 2015, Black has met with Angel every week, using technology to bridge their physical gap. He’s encountered challenges teaching through a screen but also discovered unexpected rewards in forging ahead.

“You have to teach differently when you use Skype, especially with young kids,” says Black. “I’ll spend a whole lesson on one specific thing because I have to… [but] you learn how to deal with the challenges.” For example, one of Angel’s parents is always nearby to assist with technical issues, physical adjustments or translation.

Although Black was initially reluctant to teach via Skype, he has been inspired to see the impact he could have on Angel even from a long distance. Now 11 years old, the boy has developed into a gifted young cellist. “I love him and he’s a great kid,” says Black. “You end up being a mentor to kids, not just a teacher...That’s why I love teaching—it’s really that interpersonal connection.”

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(Alan Black posing with the Zaimakis children, all of whom are talented musicians.)

Over time and thanks to the Skype connection, Black has also built a strong friendship with the entire Zaimakis family, all of whom are passionate musicians. So, in April 2017, when Black and his fiancée, Donna Bixler—a longtime supporter of the arts in Charlotte—had the opportunity to travel to Heraklion, Crete, they were thrilled. Besides spending time with the Zaimakises and discovering their beautiful country, Black had some unique musical missions to complete.

PERFORMING IN A 500-YEAR OLD FORTRESS

The first was performing alongside Angel’s father, Dimitris Zaimakis, a well-known composer and musician in his homeland, at the grand reopening of Koules Fortress in Heraklion, Crete. This massive structure, overlooking the harbor, was built by the Venetians more than 500 years ago at the crossroads of many different civilizations.

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(Dimitris Zaimakis (far left) and Alan Black (far right) pose with dignitaries at the grand reopening of Koules Fortress in Heraklion, Crete.)

“This fortress played a huge role in Heraklion and the defense of the island,” says Black. “So it was really an important landmark for Crete and really beautiful too. When [Dimitris] told me that we were going to be playing there, I was like, ‘Oh my God!’”

The two men performed the first concert ever in this space. The event was broadcast on Greek TV and many important dignitaries—including the Vice Governor of Crete, the Archbishop, and the mayor of Heraklion—attended.

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(A view of the 500-year-old Koules Fortress where Alan Black performed in Heraklion, Crete.)

“When I walked into that place [and] I played for the very first time, I got chills,” says Black, describing it as one of the highlights of his career. “All I could think of was the battles that took place there: to take a place that was used for battle and transform it into a place for music.”

Black performed several works, including Bach’s G Major Solo Suite for Cello. But the highlight of the evening was an original piece Dimitris Zaimakis composed for piano and cello just days before the event—inspired by ancient root songs from 2,000 years ago.

“The people were just weeping because they wanted to connect to their own music,” says Black.

MAKING MUSIC IN HERAKLION

Although he believes the Cretans are generally better off than people living on the Greek mainland, Black says the country’s dismal economic situation has also taken a toll on the community in Heraklion. This has made it very difficult for local people to obtain musical instruments and basic supplies like strings, cases and bows. The Zaimakis family has started popular volunteer choirs and an orchestra on Crete but few people have access to instruments or the money to purchase them.

“The people are just starved for beauty in their lives,” says Black. “Dimitris brings this sunshine, love of music, and hope to these people by all the things he does… He’s one of the most giving people I’ve ever met in my life.”

That’s inspired Black too. His second musical mission in Crete was to deliver supplies, including a new cello for Angel, who had outgrown his instrument. Black has continued to help, when possible, by shipping musical items from the US but the process is long: it can up to three weeks for packages to arrive.

He compares the Zaimakises to the von Trapp family, made famous by the musical and film, “The Sound of Music”: Angel on cello, his two brothers Orfeas and Ion on violin, Dimitris playing accordion, flute or piano, and his wife Aliki singing along with the children. They perform as an ensemble and inspire others to join them as well.

“It’s been such a rewarding and humbling experience for me to know this family,” says Black.

“We’re always looking for ways to get together.”

This Memorial Day Weekend, they will get that chance, when the whole family performs an original composition by Dimitris Zaimakis for a very special occasion: Black and Bixler’s wedding in Spoleto, Italy!

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(Alan Black and Donna Bixler with the Zaimakis family on their balcony in Heraklion overlooking Koules Fortress.)

Here’s to many more musical adventures yet to come!