The Gulf Coast Symphony is preparing to “Deck the Halls” this weekend with a holiday concert featuring a world-renowned flying violinist. Janice Martin, known as the world’s only aerial violinist, will showcase her unique blend of classical music and high-flying acrobatics in Fort Myers.
“I thought, well, there’s no way I could do it professionally unless I have some violin involved. So I eventually sort of created this way of being able to blend these different skills together. And I’ve just been on this quest. I love it,” said Martin.
Martin’s journey to becoming an aerial performer was not without challenges. Despite her stage fright and fear of heights, she found a way to overcome them.
“I just kind of got into this about like, how can I conquer these fears? So they’re not like paralyzing me. So it seems the only way you do that is you just push yourself to do stuff that is scary to do,” said Martin.
Her time in Army basic training and inspiration from the circus played a pivotal role in her transformation.
“It’s like the seed was really planted in me of what happens when you feel the fear, but you do it anyway. And you live. And that seed has kind of been just growing,” said Martin.
Now performing internationally, Martin continues to play the violin, sing, compose, and design her own aerial apparatuses.
“There’s a point where it becomes exhilarating. And its music does that to me, too. Like when the music is on and I have everything timed carefully with the beat. So I, it’s just really, I get into the music and there’s like this feeling that overcomes me,” said Martin.
This weekend’s “Deck the Halls” concert marks her first performance with the Gulf Coast Symphony, a collaboration she finds both exciting and meaningful.
“When you see somebody who’s doing something that isn’t really done, hopefully, it pushes people to also just experiment and push their boundaries,” said Martin.
The concert will take place this Saturday at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall. Tickets are still available.Â