FRYEBURG – Elijah Jensen wanted to play the violin when he was 3 years old.

When he was 6, his mother, Mary, bought him one.

And now at 12, Elijah attends the New England Conservatory and the Berklee College of Music in Boston.

“When I found a violin teacher, she said he was a prodigy,” Mary said. “She said he was gifted and we should pursue it.”

Originally from Naples, Mary and Elijah moved to Boston so he could develop his musical talents.

Tuesday, he was one of the musicians entertaining for Seniors Day at the Fryeburg Fair.

He was dressed in jeans, a red western shirt and black hat when he played a delicate piece of classical music created by Gypsy violinist Sarasate.

His second selection was the Charlie Daniels tune, “The Devil Went Down to Georgia.”

He prefers classical music to other types and listed Sarasate, Mendelsohn, Mozart, Bach, Beethoven and Brahms as those most appealing to his senses.

“But at a fair, I’d rather play Charlie Daniels,” Elijah said.

Mary and Elijah moved back to Naples about one year ago to take care of her mother, who had been ill.

Elijah is home schooled, and Mary said he has completed his high school courses and is taking college courses and pursuing independent studies.

He has already completed what he called “a small symphony” and enjoys working with a video camera and computer to create animated film clips.

He favors geography, as far as school subjects, and is not partial to mathematics.


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