Neighbor to Know: Kevin Hu

From the time Kevin Hu came to him as a 6-year-old, violin instructor Frank Lu could see the boy had a special affinity for the instrument.

"He's very talented and he works very hard," Lu said. "He loves music."

Kevin also loved to perform. After his lesson, he would ask to play for other students. He liked to practice where others could hear him.

"He practiced always in the backyard," Lu said. "He enjoys the neighbors."

On Saturday, neighbors can come to hear Kevin, now a 14-year-old freshman at Naperville Central High School, perform during DuPage Symphony Orchestra's "Fresh Sounds from Old Germany" concert. He will play the first movement of Henri Vieuxtemps' Violin Concerto No. 5 in A minor -- the piece that made him the winner of DSO's 2008 Young Artist Auditions.

It was just one of many competitions he's won recently.

"Kevin tackled Vieuxtemps' considerable technical obstacles with ease and aplomb. Moreover, he was able to express a tender operatic lyricism rare in younger players," said Adam Liebert, a violinist himself and a judge at the DSO Young Artist Auditions.

Kevin himself says it took a while for him to really take to the violin.

"I wasn't very patient with practicing. I'm still not patient," he said.

But he does practice -- aiming for two hours a day, while carrying a full load as a student, participating in math as well as music competitions, and playing with Chicago Youth Symphony.

Practice, he says, not only helps him be ready to perform, it helps him feel ready.

"No one can play without at least being a little nervous," he said.

Energy and drive

Kevin's talent and practice has made him a finalist in the young artist competition of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, as well the winner of the Violin Intermediate Division and Violin Senior Division of the Society of American Musicians, the Senior String Division of the Glen Ellyn-Wheaton Music Club, and the Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra's young artist auditions.

In January, he finished fourth in the 2008 National Blount-Slawson Young Artists Competition in Alabama, a competition his father initially feared might be too advanced for him but that his teacher said would be worth the effort.

"He is flourishing marvelously in front of my eyes. He is an extremely gifted young man," said Cyrus Forough of Northbrook, who became Kevin's violin teacher last year after Lu felt his former student needed more advanced instruction.

Kevin's father, Zack Hu, serves as chauffeur and supporter for his son.

"He has energy. He has drive. It's not like his parents push him," he said.

Although his parents aren't musicians themselves, they introduced Kevin to their love of orchestral music. They started Kevin's older sister, Ophelia, on piano lessons, and Kevin on the violin.

Bother and sister are part of a trio that has played on National Public Radio. Ophelia, a senior at Naperville Central, accompanies Kevin on the piano at his competitions. She takes pride when his accomplishments in music or math are announced over the school's P.A. system.

"I love, love hearing his name in announcements," she said. "He always makes me set my expectations higher."

The two call themselves best friends and play music together on a volunteer basis at Edward Hospital.

"My sister is a big influence on me," Kevin said. "She is like the older sister a little kid could dream of. She's taught me. She's counseled me."

Music and travel

When he's not playing music or doing homework, Kevin said he likes to hang out with his friends. He sometimes gets tired, he admits.

"In today's world for competitive people there isn't time to slack off, so I try to draw energy from wherever I can," he said.

Clearly, one such source is his music. Kevin said he is drawn to pieces that are both lyrical and technical. His favorite composer is Dmitri Shostakovich, a Russian whose music written during the Soviet era is infused with political meaning.

Kevin's music already has taken him on travels to different states and different countries. Last year, he went on a European tour with the Chicago Youth Symphony. This summer, he'll attend the International Music Academy of Pilsen in the Czech Republic for two weeks.

Kevin said he expects music to always be part of his life.

"I'm definitely going to pursue music, but I'm not sure professionally yet," he said.

If you go

DuPage Symphony Orchestra's "Fresh Sounds from Old Germany" concert

8 p.m. Saturday

North Central College's Pfeiffer Hall, 310 E. Benton Ave., Naperville

$18 adults, $15 seniors, $8 children

(630) 637-7469