Local Child Prodigy Highlights Cinema Arts Show

The Cinema Arts Centre's Sky Room Cafe was turned into a concert hall as a full house came to see an evening of classical guitar with 12-year-old Dix Hills resident and classical guitar prodigy, Jonathan Bodian, and virtuosos Rene Izquierdo and Elina Chekan.

Bodian, a student at West Hollow Middle School, along with Izquierdo and Chekan, shared the stage in the tw0-hour set, performing both solos and duets, with all three joining together for the final piece, a waltz by Aram Khatchaturian. The rest of the concert was comprised of everything from classical music by Johannes Brahms and Claude Debussy, to jazz pieces by George Gershwin.

Many of the pieces were either composed or arranged by Jorge Morel, a renowed classical guitarist, composer, and Bodian's teacher. Bodian is also studying under Izquierdo over the summer, who along with Chekan is a professor at the University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee's fine arts school.

"It was fun, I think I did well," said Bodian after the performance.

The young guitarist, who said he has been playing classical acoustic guitar for almost five years now, has performed in various shows across Long Island, including at the Cinema Arts Centre where he has joined Premik Russell Tubbs in his monthly concert performances. "This is a great audience," Bodian added.

Vicki Loudis and her husband, Ed Ciaccio, both of Queens, who are both members of the Cinema Arts Centre said they are big fans of classical guitar music and were excited to come to Long Island and see the show. "We usually come to see movies," Ciaccio said. "We missed the Brazilian guitar show a few weeks ago, and wanted to make sure we saw this."

Loudis added, "I think the show was very good. That little 12-year-old kid was just amazing!"

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