By HARRY HITZEMAN

Legendary violinist shares wisdom with U-46 students, staff

Legendary Japanese violinist Midori ... brought energy, enthusiasm and expertise to Larkin High School Thursday as part of a weeklong residency with the Elgin Symphony and Youth Orchestra.

"It's really invaluable," said Colin Clark, a Larkin High School junior who plays the cello in the Maud Powell String Quartet, the Elgin Youth Symphony's top string ensemble. "When you're rehearsing, you think you have everything down and then someone like Midori comes." Midori held a tutoring session with the quartet in the Larkin auditorium in front of about 375 orchestra students.

Karen Darling, a St. Charles junior who plays the violin, agreed with Gabi Pittford of Wheaton and Berit Goodman of Woodstock that Midori was humble and inspirational. "It's not only matching style and technical (aspects); it's matching emotion and how you feel about the piece," Goodman said. Added Darling: "It's almost like we have to feel the same emotion all together."