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