The Canvas: Stress-relief violinist

April 14, 2008 —

by James Fry

Michael Saloka plays his violin in Groening Commons. He plans on playing on campus at intervals throughout the week. Saloka has played violin since the fourth grade.

Expect to hear the violin around campus this week as junior Michael Scott Saloka plays in random, heavily-populated locations across SVSU.

Hoping to relieve some of the pressure of exams for himself and others, Saloka has decided to use music as an outlet.

"I usually relieve pressure by going crazy or roaring on the top of a building, but it's very difficult to get onto the buildings here, and I'm sick of going crazy ... music seemed easier."

Saloka also admits that he likes the attention.

"I've seen a freshman running around in a monkey suit. It's like that, but without the cool suit."

Taking a more serious tone, Saloka admits that he is really interested in spreading the awareness of music. He believes that a lot of people are lacking in their knowledge of the arts throughout SVSU.

A violinist since fourth grade, Saloka began playing in his elementary school's music class. Continuing to play all through middle and high school, Saloka is a primarily self-taught violinist, relying only on three months of lessons to teach him the basics. By his senior year, he was playing in two orchestras, conducting in one and learning other instruments such as the viola and double bass in his spare time.

After coming to SVSU, Saloka has played with the campus orchestra Forever Strings, and played in the pit orchestra for the Theatre Department's production of Oliver! The Musical.

Enjoying a variety of music, Saloka plays classical, Irish, modern, show tunes, video game and movie themes.

Playing Wednesday in Groening Commons, Saloka had already made fans. Andrea Knoll, a music senior, found the performance compelling.

"He had a unique interpretation, and he made excellent style choices," Knoll said. "It's nice to see someone out in the open doing what they love and inspiring students to do what they love."

Although Saloka won't have his case open for change, "I do encourage people passing by to throw money at me if they feel like it."

And, expect a wide variety of music, as he will pull from random genres all through the sessions. He will perform Monday, Tuesday and Thursday in surprise locations around campus around 1 p.m. each day.