The All-Encompassing Musician

As a young artist, it is incredibly important to gain experience in all facets of music-making: solo playing, chamber music, orchestra (symphonic and chamber), teaching, community engagement, and anything else your 21st century entrepreneurial mind can think of. It can be tricky to balance all of these things, especially if you are still a student and managing the beginnings of a career. The past 5 days, I certainly experienced quite the musical juggling act! I'm currently Concertmaster for the Juilliard Orchestra cycle with Leonard Slatkin, performing Strauss Don Quixote and Prokofiev Symphony no. 5 on Saturday, May 4 at 8:00PM in Alice Tully Hall. This past week, I also performed the Bruch G minor Violin Concerto with the Bucks County Symphony, as well as a solo recital and outreach presentations in 3 local elementary schools. It was quite the experience to switch roles so quickly--Thursday morning, Concertmaster of the orchestra rehearsal and Thursday evening, recital; Friday morning, 4 hours of outreach presentations for elementary schools and Friday evening, dress rehearsal of the Bruch with orchestra; Saturday afternoon was filled with teaching, paper-writing (yes, I am still a student!), errands (including a trip to the luthier to treat my violin's open seam), and practicing; Sunday afternoon, performance of the Bruch with orchestra and Sunday evening, paper-writing on the train back to NYC.

I had a wonderful time performing with the Bucks County Symphony Orchestra and very much appreciate such an all-encompassing musical performing experience! It was also incredible to have so much of my family in the audience supporting me!

In other news, my performance of the Bruch with the Santa Cruz Symphony Orchestra will be broadcasted on KUSP's OnSite! program, airing Friday, May 3 from 8:00-10:00PM PST. For more information on attending the Saturday, May 4 Juilliard Orchestra performance, please visit the Juilliard website. 

Until next time!

Francesca 

Updated Site and Summer Plans

http://francescadepasquale.instantencore.com/web/home.aspx

I recently updated my website, opting for a cleaner, more concise design and adding information for upcoming concerts! Along those lines, I'm happy to announce that this summer I will travel to Brazil for Juilliard's Residency with Santa Marcelina Cultura for two weeks of chamber music performance and engagement presentations, return to the Perlman Music Program Chamber Music Workshop, and attend the Music@Menlo Chamber Music Institute International Program.

I only have about a month left in the school year. I'm very excited for my summer adventures to begin!

Until next time,
Francesca

One Year

One year ago today, I lost the most important person in my life. I can say that now without reservation...the more time has passed, the more I realize how much my father influenced and shaped who I am. It doesn't feel like it's been a year...logically, when I recount how much has happened it actually is one of the busier years in recent memory, but it in no way feels like it's been a year since I heard my father's voice, saw the twinkle in his eyes, or felt his hand reassuringly on mine. At first, I attributed that to the turmoil of so much change all at once in my life, forcing me to adapt to a day-by-day lifestyle. But the more I think about it, the more it seems that, while this is one possible explanation, that it's more about the strength of my father as a person and of our relationship. That kind of love and support does not just disappear with the person's physical being and I can truly say that I have felt that from him throughout this year. It still feels like he's with me, which sometimes means that it's harder to cope with the fact that he is no longer here...but, ultimately, I would rather have that and always be able to remember the incredible person he was and how much he did for me. I love you Dad and I will continue to miss and love you every day.