Acclaimed violinist's visit will help music charity

David Juritz, concertmaster of Britain's renowned London Mozart Players chamber orchestra, who was also lead violinist on the soundtrack of "The Last King of Scotland," arrives in Chicago today as he travels around the U.S. on the final leg of his 60,000-plus mile world tour.

He hopes to meet people who will be inspired by his enthusiasm and help him raise much-needed funds to set up new projects, as well as support those which are already up and running.

He will perform at 8 p.m. today at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 39W830 Highland Ave. in Elgin.

Donations at the concert will benefit Musequality's first project at the Tender Talents Magnet School for AIDS orphans and other disadvantaged children in Kampala, Uganda.

On Saturday for the Chicago Day of Music, he will be playing on Michigan Avenue between 5 and 6 p.m. and inside in the rotunda after 7 p.m. at the Symphony Center. If a crowd of children gathers, he will put on a special performance, with narration, of "Ferdinand the Bull." Otherwise he will be performing Bach sonatas and partitas for passers-by.

When acclaimed violinist Juritz, cast off his white bow tie and tails to busk his way around the world, he was confident that his skill as a performer would be enough to see him on his way.

"Busking" is performing in public in the hopes of soliciting donations. He is playing solo Bach sonatas and partitas on the streets and has called his tour "Round the World and Bach."

Juritz, who frequently finds himself and his solitary violin outgunned by other street musicians who arrive equipped with amplifiers, backing tracks and keyboards, is raising funds for Musequality, a charity which supports musical education for the poorest children in the developing world.

In South America, Juritz visited El Sistema, the famous Venezuelan Youth Music Project which has helped Venezuelan children escape a life of poverty, and which inspired Juritz to set up Musequality.

The idea of Musequality is to help set up choirs, bands, and orchestras, which encourage communal musical activity. At Musequality's first project, The Tender Talents Magnet School in Kampala, it is already clear what can be achieved.

The school, founded in 1999, cares for teenaged AIDS orphans, children from the poorest families of Kampala's community, and has recently begun taking children escaping the Northern Conflict. It will provide piano, guitar, percussion, and music theory lessons as well as choral training and music workshops for between 50 and 70 children. Public performances, so important in setting goals and building self-esteem, are an important element, and the choir will give six concerts a year.

As he busks his way round the world, Juritz aims to make connections and organize exchanges -- of skills, time, musical instruments, and experience -- among different countries, so that many more disadvantaged children can benefit.

With the comforts of his London home and job far behind, Juritz has relied on busking donations to fund his travel and living expenses throughout his four-month tour. The journey has been exhausting at times, and every day presents new challenges.

In 1991, Juritz was appointed leader of the United Kingdom's longest established chamber orchestra, the London Mozart Players. He works frequently as soloist and director with the LMP and has given many world premieres, including new works by Cecilia McDowall, Geoffrey Burgon, Lynne Plowman and Geoffrey Hanson. He also works as a guest-director with orchestras such as the Ambache Chamber Orchestra, Mozart Festival Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Zurich Chamber Orchestra. He is a regular guest leader with orchestras such as the Royal Philharmonic and London Philharmonic Orchestras and also has led session orchestras on major films.

Recent credits include "The Last King of Scotland" and "The Merchant of Venice."

To make a donation to Musequality, visit the Web site at www.justgiving.com/roundtheworldandbach.

For details, visit www.roundtheworld andbach.com, www.musequality.org or www.davidjuritz.com.