The ACU Orchestra string section participated in a master class taught by Emanuel Borok last Friday at the Williams Performing Arts Center.

Borok briefly spoke about music theory and ways to play a piece of music in accordance with the composers. He also spent  time talking about his life as a professional violinist.

“This master class was an opportunity for Emanuel Borok to share his life story and experiences as an artist and career musician with students that are musicians or just have an interest in music,” said Jarred Baker, junior communications major from Georgetown.

Borok was born in Uzbekistan and studied the violin with renowned teacher Voldemar Sturestep.  He has won several awards in Europe and in 1985 earned the position of Concertmaster in the Dallas symphony. He retired in Dallas in 2010.

Rebecca Voran, junior English major from Houston said, “I love hearing from professional musicians, and learning what it’s really like to play in a major symphony and how hard they worked to get there.  It is very inspiring.”

The class took place from 3-4p.m., the normal  rehearsal time for the ACU Orchestra.

“Though it took time away from rehearsing,” Voran said, “I’m really glad our professor Dr. Steven Ward let us attend, and I would love to attend another master class like that again.”

Nathan Hamilton, senior piano performance major from Abilene, said it was a good opportunity to hear what the professional music life is like.

“As musicians, it is important to hear from great performers and to apply their experiences into our future music making,” said Hamilton.

Students hope this will be just one of many master classes they will have the opportunity to attend at ACU.

“They are called master classes for a reason,” Baker said. “Regardless of your level of experience as a musician, there is always the potential to take something beneficial away from the experiences and knowledge of someone like Mr. Borok.”