Chosen soloist

Classical composer Carl Nielsen was kind of punk rock — in an early 20th century kind of way.

The Danish musician wrote rather orthodox symphonies in the late romantic age of music, but began experimenting with different types of composition in the early 1900s. Nielsen was one of a few composers, like the great Igor Stravinsky, who broke down the walls of traditional concerto form.

The concerto had traditionally been a three-movement piece that featured a solo instrument backed by an orchestra. Concertos allowed the soloist to really show off their talent.

But Nielsen was interested in pushing his soloist’s virtuosity to the limit. His style could hardly be recognized as a concerto.

His works began experimenting with dissonant tones. His concertos had two movements instead of three.

The element Nielsen kept, however, was allowing the piece’s soloist license to truly perform — which is what Danielle Leone will do this weekend.

Leone, a homegrown Huntington Beach flutist, will be the soloist in the UCI Chamber Orchestra’s rendition of Nielsen’s 1926 Flute Concerto.

The 21-year-old Leone said there is a good reason Nielsen wrote his flute concerto in two movements. “It’s too hard for three,” she said.

Not only is it difficult, but it’s no easy task for any musician used to playing with music in front of them.

But Leone is ready. The UCI student began practicing the piece about a year ago. She won the university’s yearly contest to perform a concerto. Students audition with a concerto that features their particular instrument.

The orchestra then learns a piece chosen by the student winner. Along with Leone’s Nielsen concerto, the orchestra will also perform symphonies by Franz Schubert and Sergei Prokofiev.

Leone said it’s an odd feeling to know a whole group of people are working to help her shine.

“All those people have been training their whole lives and they’re there to play for me,” Leone said.

Leone began playing the flute in sixth grade. It was the beginning of a beautiful musical relationship.

“The flute was so beautiful and you can do so much with it,” Leone said. “I just fell in love with it.”

After playing flute for Edison High School’s band, Leone decided to double major at UCI, in music and biology.

Leone was originally skeptical of making a career of music. She took on the biology major feeling she would have a better chance at settling into a career that way. At one point, she even decided to give up the music major and dropped out of the program.

That didn’t last long.

“I realized, ‘Oh my gosh, I just made the biggest mistake,’ ” Leone said.

It was only a week before she was back in the music program. “I could just never move on.”

Leone is the UCI Symphony Orchestra’s principal flutist, and she has aspirations to work as a studio musician or in a pit orchestra for plays or film.

So Leone decided to dedicate herself to the flute. That commitment shows through in her preparation for the concerto. She practices every day, often giving up her spare time to practice. Leone even took her flute on vacation.

The hard work is paying off, as is working with other people similarly dedicated to music.

“I’m surrounded by really good musicians, and it makes me better,” she said. “Even when I think I’ve experimented in everything, I see a concert where I say, ‘How did they do that?’”

Which is precisely what Leone hopes her audiences say this weekend.

Who: Danielle Leone, flute soloist, and the UC Irvine Symphony Orchestra.

What: PRIMED, a classical concert with music by Franz Schubert, Carl Nielsen, and Sergei Prokofiev

When: 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday

Where: Claire Trevor Theatre, UCI

Cost: $12 at the door or at www.ticketmaster.com.

Information: www.arts.uci.edu