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 

SF to Santa Cruz: A Week of Concerts

Last weekend, I performed the Bruch G minor concerto with the Santa Cruz Symphony. This was the last of the official, first prize package of performances associated with the Irving M. Klein International String Competition. The Klein is continually thinking of new ways to engage their past prize winners, which is unique and a fantastic testament to their mission of support for young musicians during a crucial period of musical development. As soon as they found out my Santa Cruz dates, they created a mini-residency in San Francisco prior.

The residency included a chamber music event, a board member concert, three school visits, and finishing with a short recital. The chamber music event featured prepare works between myself, 2012 first prize winner Austin Huntington, his brother and fellow Colburn colleague Thomas Huntington, and 2012 semi-finalist Sarah Harball. After our various duos and quartet performances, we sight-read with high school kids and musicians from the San Francisco Conservatory. This community event was open to the public and a wonderful way to collaborate with musicians of varying ages and levels of experience. The various school visits allowed Sarah and myself the opportunity to perform, give interactive presentations, and coach grades 3-12 at the Crowden, Nueva, and SF School of the Arts. We were astonished at the high level of playing, creativity, and imagination amongst these kids! I love giving community engagement programs and think they are not only necessary for the future and vitality of classical music and education, but also a fantastic way as young musicians to already give back to our craft and communities. I had a wonderful time in San Francisco, staying with a loving host family that provided delicious meals and fabulous company the whole week.

Incredible space for music making-- my host family's beautiful home

Radu and I in front of the Santa Cruz natural bridges

In Santa Cruz, I participated in a symphony preview event, rehearsed with the orchestra Friday evening and Saturday afternoon, and performed Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon. Between the rehearsals, receptions, and my own practice, I didn't have much time to explore Santa Cruz...but it was so incredibly beautiful! Radu also came up from Los Angeles to hear my performances and I couldn't have been happier that he was there. The orchestra was wonderful, warm, and welcoming...and I so enjoyed my first time playing this wonderful concerto! Check out the review of Sunday's performance here.

With Conductor Daniel Stewart
Photo Credit: Peninsula Reviews

Now...back to the New York grind!

Until next time,
Francesca