It’s late morning on the Fourth of July as Edwin Huizinga takes a quick breather backstage at the Sunset Center. He’s already been rehearsing for a couple hours with seven other musicians. The violinist, who’s been a recognizable force at the Carmel Bach Festival for over a dozen years now, is eager to share his excitement about his program, Amazing Grace, scheduled for the main stage of the 81st Carmel Bach Festival – one so eagerly anticipated that it sold out early.
“[Amazing Grace] represents everything that’s going on in America,” says Huizinga, a native of Puslinch, Ontario. “There’s a lot going on not worth celebrating right now, but musically, things are amazing and gold, and acting against hate.”
Before returning to the stage, Huizinga adds this: “It’s been scientifically proven that singing together with other people releases endorphins and puts you in a better mood.”
Huizinga is a towering presence next to the seven other musicians rehearsing on the Sunset Center stage.
Sporting saltwater sandals and long, flowing red hair, Huizinga speaks about his work with bursts of passion and excitement and talks fast. He begins each piece with a monster exhale that’s more like a gust of wind with the power of a hurricane.
Huizinga’s magnitude may be initially daunting; he’s the average size of an NFL tight end. But he has the docile soul of an artist. He’s able to orchestrate while navigating his violin with acrobatic skill.
Instead of a conductor’s baton, Huizinga uses his eyes and eyebrows to communicate to the other players. Intermittently, he marches in place with rhythmic precision to keep time. The trademark deep exhales continue. Each time there’s a tempo change, Huizinga hops toward his music stand, adding more kinetic energy.
“I’m trying to create a presence of sound that never stops,” he says. “The best moments are when you forget what the notes are.”
His movement is infectious – the other musicians begin to melodically move in sync with his hopping and marching.
The program includes music of the Shakers, a bluegrass medley paying tribute to one of the genre’s godfathers, Bill Monroe, and a medley of J.S. Bach’s works translated into American folk music.
The program closes with a special rendition of “Amazing Grace” and a “secret” encore Huizinga says is a guaranteed crowdpleaser.
In 2016, Huizinga and his pal William Coulter, a Celtic guitarist extraordinaire based in Santa Cruz County, birthed the unique string duo Fire & Grace, a melding of classical baroque with traditional Irish dance music. Last year, the outfit performed its original arrangement The Liquid Gold Suite at the Carmel Bach Fest and this year, the musical crossover returns.
This is one performance in a classical festival Huizinga believes might move audience members to their feet to dance, and possibly sing along with some of the more familiar pieces. He hopes the music will inspire audience members to get their groove on when they break out timeless favorites, like “House of the Rising Sun.”
AMAZING GRACE 7:30pm Thursday, July 19. Sunset Center, San Carlos and Ninth, Carmel. (Sold out). bachfestival.org/amazing-grace.