Hometown: Ames, Iowa
Major: Violin performance
Degree: B.M.
Class of 2012
Current teacher: Donald Weilerstein
Why did you choose to study at NEC?
“It was common knowledge among my teachers and high school peers that NEC’s string program was without rival, so of course I wanted to be a part of such a strong program! Private instruction was my top priority in picking schools and it was one of my aspirations to work with Donald Weilerstein. In addition, I was intrigued by NEC’s orchestra program, which was getting a lot of attention, and for great reason. Playing in a great orchestra is a very important part of the conservatory education for me.”
Are there any pre-NEC musical experiences you would like to mention?
“I was really serious about my string quartet at the Music Institute of Chicago, where I attended the Academy program. We played together for three years and we just clicked, both musically and emotionally. It was with them that I learned to play viola, as we originally had three violins and a cello – definitely a problem. We won a lot of competitions, including the St. Paul String Quartet competition, the Rembrandt Chamber Players competition, and placed second at the Fischoff competition. The best experience we had together was performing on ‘From the Top’s’ television show, Live From Carnegie Hall. Though we are all at different schools now, our experience together set the bar for all my chamber music since.”
What do you like about studying at NEC?
“I love the NEC environment. Everyone is so supportive of each other. There is a sense of community here that I have not experienced anywhere else, and it truly makes the music all the better. There is the right balance of the three things that I think are most important to my development as a violinist: private instruction, orchestra, and chamber music. The orchestra program is unbelievable here. I have gotten to play so much great repertoire and working with Hugh Wolff (and other great guest conductors) has been most rewarding. The chamber music aspect is also really special here. We’re coached by a variety of faculty members and get many chances perform and participate in master classes throughout each semester.”
Were there any non-music courses that you really enjoyed?
“By far my favorite non-music course has been Robin Dash’s Art History class. Every other week we would visit the Museum of Fine Arts to observe, sketch, and write about our experience with the art. We learned about so many different styles of art and the importance they had in the development of cultures throughout the world. We spent the alternating weeks in the studio creating our own art, inspired by what we learned and writing about how our observations impacted us, listening to music as we worked. Robin was such a wonderful supporter of what we did outside her classroom and always sought to help us create art that crossed the boundaries of genre. The freedom of expression I learned in her class definitely carries over into my playing.”
What kind of music do you like listening to?
“I must confess I do love listening to all kinds of classical music. Some of my favorite composers are Brahms, Ravel, Prokofiev, Ives, Walton, Tchaikovsky, Shostakovich and Bach. Other than that, I also love jazz and music from around the world, like Keith Jarrett, Pink Martini, and Paris Combo. My favorite CD at the moment is Rufus Wainwright’s Release the Stars.”
Are there any particular moments or experiences at NEC that were memorable?
“This fall the NEC Philharmonia performed with Wayne Shorter and his quartet. Getting to work with the most influential jazz artists of our time was unbelievable! I felt so privileged to be part of such an important collaboration bringing classical and jazz musicians together. The second experience was playing in Symphony Hall with the Philharmonia and Hugh Wolff. Everyone in the orchestra did an unbelievable job of preparation. Sitting there on the Symphony Hall stage I could feel the explosive energy from everyone around me just waiting to be released. Hugh Wolff knows how to bring the best out of all of us in the orchestra, and this concert was definitely the most exhilarating performance I’ve ever had. These experiences could not have happened anywhere else and I’m so lucky that I got to be a part of them.”
What do you like to do outside of class?
“When I'm not practicing or doing homework, I love reading and making art. I've never really played sports seriously, but I have danced (mostly ballet) since I was four. It keeps me active and is something that I just love doing. It’s a great change from playing music, and I often find it helps me have more freedom of expression when I'm playing violin. I also love science and right now one of my favorite things to watch is Planet Earth.”
2010-07-01
CHARLES IVES