Young talent gets a pat on back, a helping hand

Friday, Dec. 21, 2007 | 7:23 a.m.

Hal Weller is navigating his car through a snowstorm in Flagstaff, Ariz. His passenger is 18-year-old Krzysztof Rucinski, a violinist from Poland who is performing in Flagstaff and Sedona before arriving in Las Vegas for an evening soiree. Rucinski is in Weller's car because Weller, founder and former music director of the Las Vegas Philharmonic, saw Rucinski performing on YouTube and contacted him.

As Rucinski recalls, via telephone from Flagstaff, the Internet conversation went something like this: "Nice job. Have you ever considered studying in the United States?" (Weller).

"Oh no," Rucinski responded. "That would be impossible."

Not so. Rucinski is set to attend the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y., next fall and study with violinist Oleh Krysa. Weller's new nonprofit group plans to help with the bill. Weller, who has been feeding Rucinski and shuttling him to rehearsals and performances in northern Arizona, has turned the young musician into a protege of the newly formed Foundation to Assist Young Musicians. The group aims to support young students and professionals through financial support or mentoring.

A champion of young soloists, Weller brought in several as guest performers for the Las Vegas Philharmonic, including pianist Orion Weiss.

On Thursday Rucinski performed a private concert at the home of opera singer Luana DeVol. The performance was a way to introduce the Foundation to Assist Young Musicians to the Las Vegas community and raise money for the organization. Weller hopes to secure funds for additional Suzuki programs in the Las Vegas Valley.

Oppenheim revised

After much hubbub about cost and proper artist selection, the Las Vegas Arts Commission unanimously approved Dennis Oppenheim's revised proposal for the Gateway to the Arts District public art project.

Oppenheim presented his new plans at last week's Arts Commission meeting and won approval. The project scraps the initially approved paint bucket archways that would have "spilled" neon at the corners of Charleston Boulevard and Main Street and Charleston and Las Vegas boulevards.

His new proposal incorporates two LED sculptural paint brushes, one at each intersection. The brushes, standing as tall as 50 feet, will have projectors that beam choreographed light shows into evening skies.

Oppenheim said he could complete this plan with the $700,000 budget.

The original proposal, approved by a Las Vegas Arts Commission subcommittee in October, would have cost $3 million to fabricate and install. Oppenheim initially told members of the subcommittee that it could be built within a $700,000 budget.

The city must negotiate a contract with the artist for the sculpture. The contract should be completed by summer. Fabrication and construction would begin after that.

Pioneer preserved

The Pioneer Saloon, that charming desert watering hole known for its tin walls, bullet holes, well-stocked jukebox and cherry wood bar, has been recognized for its storied past by the Nevada Board of Museums and History and will be added to the State Register of Historic Places.

Built in the early 1900s by George Fayle in the mining town of Goodsprings, the Pioneer Saloon is the last remaining business in the small community seven miles from Interstate 15, which slices through Jean. The saloon, which has a cult following and is a local favorite, has been featured in several Hollywood films and was the site where Clark Gable waited for news of Carole Lombard's crash on Mount Potosi.