Bow time at the Apollo

As a biting winter wind swirled between the canyon-like walls of 125th Street in Harlem, Melanie R. Hill shivered and thought about two graces.
Grace was the name she had given the cherished violin cushioned inside the hard-shell case she held in her gloved hand. The other grace was the type she believes comes from God, and had brought her to the front entrance of the renowned Apollo Theater on a frigid Saturday morning last December.
The University of Virginia fourth-year student had traveled to New York to audition for the theater’s famous “Amateur Night.” Because the often raucous and demanding audience selects winners by levels of applause measured on a meter, it’s an ideal way for a fledgling performer to gauge his or her possible potential in the professional arena.
Hill had plenty of experience performing before large audiences. She had played her violin on “Bobby Jones Gospel” on BET network and had performed for fans of the Los Angeles Lakers on their home court.
But the 22-year-old violinist, who specializes in playing gospel music, knew performing at the revered Apollo would be a true test of how well she and her music would be accepted by the general public. She also knew the experience would mark a musical milestone in her career that she would never forget.
“The thing about the Apollo Theater is that it’s so rich with history,” said Hill, who grew up in Virginia Beach. “Singers like Ella Fitzgerald and Bessie Smith have graced that stage, and came into their own there.
“On the day I tried out they were only taking the first 200 contestants, so I wanted to make sure I got there early. I was number 57, but I had to wait in the cold for quite a while.
“I was actually kind of jittery at first, because I wanted to make sure my violin was in perfect tune when I auditioned. A violin can go out of tune when it’s put through an extreme climate condition like being out in the cold like we were.”
After being ushered inside the theater, Hill had a chance to warm up and tune up. Because her focus is gospel music, she selected her own arrangement of the title song of her second CD, “I Surrender All,” to play at the audition.
“When it was my turn I went into the audition room, and there were three people sitting at a table,” Hill said. “They have a camera filming the audition as well.
“After I played they thanked me and told me to go to the table on my right. A person there gave me a form that said, ‘Congratulations, you’re on your way to becoming one of the individuals who will perform at the world famous Apollo Theater in New York City.’
“I was so excited that I just walked out of the room. A few minutes later I realized I had forgotten my violin case in the audition room, and I had to go back to get it.”
Considering the Apollo’s storied past, it’s understandable why Hill was momentarily unfocused after learning she would have the opportunity to perform there. The legendary theater has introduced to the world a host of performers who went on to become superstars in the music world.
The first regular amateur night shows at the theater started in 1934. During the ensuing years it has helped launch the careers of performers such as Billie Holiday, James Brown, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Mariah Carey, the Jackson Five, Sarah Vaughan and Diana Ross and the Supremes.
It wasn’t long before the venue earned the billing, “Where stars are born and legends are made.” Hill had worked hard for the opportunity to have her name included on the theater’s illustrious list of performers.
Hill became interested in the violin after watching her older sister, Crystal, playing her violin during a private music lesson. She was only 4 at the time, but remembers thinking how wonderful it would be if she could play the violin, too.
Hill’s parents, Sharon and Ricky Hill, thought it would be wonderful. So at the age of 4, their youngest daughter tucked a tiny violin beneath her chin and took her first tentative steps on a musical journey of joy and discovery.
“Learning how to play the violin is all about diligence, discipline and passion,” said Hill, who is the violinist for the UVa gospel choir Black Voices. “The passion makes you want to practice and develop your skills.
“And without passion you won’t have an audience that will feel what you’re playing. When I play, I feel heart, soul, passion and energy.
“I played in my high school orchestra and, after a performance, my mom told me that while I was playing I looked so happy that it reminded her of when I would be eating ice cream. When I play I really get into a zone.”
Hill says the violin satisfies her thirst for music. And playing gospel music fills another need she feels in her life — praising and worshiping God through her music.
“I praise the Lord for giving me life, because I know I was put on this Earth for a purpose and reason,” said Hill, who will be graduating with the UVa class of 2008 on May 18. “And that is to bless other lives with the music God has given me to play through my violin.
“I love the sound of the instrument, and there’s something that happens inside me when I play. I’m classically trained and I enjoy playing classical music, but I consider myself a gospel violinist.
“I love gospel music, because it talks about the Lord and all his blessings. The benefits of being classically trained is that it enables me to really understand music for what it is.”
Melvin L. Butler, assistant professor in UVa’s McIntire School of Music, has had Hill in several of his classes and has heard her play on a number of occasions. He said she brings the same level of enthusiasm to the classroom as she demonstrates on stage.
“Melanie is probably the most enthusiastic student I’ve had in the three years I have taught here at UVa,” Butler said. “It’s more than her personality, it’s also the dedication she shows to her assignments and the course work she does.
“And she certainly plays with a lot of expression. When I hear her play she strikes me as someone who sings through her instrument, and that’s a rare quality.
“I’m a saxophone player, and I value that in an instrumentalist. Pretty much every time I have heard her play it has been in the context of playing gospel music. She really tries to minister through her violin.”
When Hill walked onto the stage at the Apollo Theater on Jan. 16, she was perfectly composed. The jitters she experienced during the audition phase were gone.
“Before I went on, one of the staff asked me if I was nervous,” Hill said. “I actually wasn’t, I felt at peace.
“I wasn’t worrying about winning or any of that. I wanted to concentrate on playing my music and allowing people to see what the Lord has done in my life musically.
“I won that night, and was asked to come back on January 23. That was so amazing, because that’s my birthday.”
Hill came in second on Jan. 23 and was asked to come back to compete for a spot on the nationally televised program, “Showtime at the Apollo.” She continued to win until the field of hopefuls had been winnowed down to six finalists.
On March 2, “Showtime at the Apollo” taped its “Finale” show. In a winner-take-all showdown, Hill and the other finalists vied for the grand prize of $25,000.
Hill’s performance registered a high mark on the applause meter, but not quite high enough. Although the UVa student wasn’t able to enlarge her bank account, she feels she’s much richer for the experience she was given.
“The entire experience from beginning to end was wonderful,” Hill said. “And performing at the Apollo is such a great way to test how people will react to the art you bring to them.
“I plan to continue my violin playing throughout my life, but I also plan to further my education because I love my academics. But for now, music is my first love. It’s my passion and I want to minister through my music.
“Now that I’m about to graduate, a lot of people are asking me about my plans for the future. My plan is for the Lord to order my steps day by day.”
Hill’s performances on “Showtime at the Apollo” are scheduled to air Saturday, April 19 and 26 and May 24. Her CDs “Instrument of Grace” and “I Surrender All” are available at her Web site www. melanieviolin.com and at http://cdbaby.com/cd/ melanierhill2.