Violin & Viola
Where were you born?
Berkeley, California.
What college did you attend?
Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore, Maryland.
What inspired you to start playing music?
My dad played the violin and piano, there was lots of music being played on records, and my mother pushed me.
Why did you choose your principal instrument?
There was an extra violin in the house, so…it also appealed to me as a beautiful sound.
What other instruments do you play?
Viola.
When did you start playing with the Long Beach Symphony Orchestra (what year)?
2000
With what other orchestras do you perform?
Pacific Symphony, LA Chamber Orchestra, LA Opera, Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, and others.
Have you performed for any of the following, and if so, who or what?
Film:
Movie sountracks at MGM, Fox, Paramount, Warner and Todd AO-CBS studios in LA.
Recordings:
Baltimore Symphony, Boston Symphony & Pops CDs, various singers, Yo Yo Ma/ John Williams CD, and television and movies.
Cartoons:
“Futurama” (TV series)
Touring Artists:
Isaac Stern, Yo-Yo Ma, Itzak Perlman, KLR, Rod Stewert, Bernadette Peters, Peter Schickele—PDQ Bach, Pavarotti, 3 Tenors, Andre Watts, Ravi Shankar, Hagan Hakkegaard, Emanuel Ax, JP Rampal, Midori, Anne-Sophie Mutter, etc.
Who is your favorite composer?
Bartok, Prokofiev, Brahms and Bach.
Why?
Harmonic interest, orchestration.
What is your favorite orchestral work?
Hindemith’s Mathis der Maler and Bartok’s Concerto for Orchestra.
Why?
Big full sounds, lots of brass, great exciting harmonies and driving rhythm.
What was the funniest thing that has ever happened to you while onstage?
In a Boston Pops concert, Arthur Fiedler fell asleep while conducting, and we just played to the end of the piece without help…the whole orchestra was smiling!!
What do you enjoy doing besides music? (Hobbies, etc.)
Being outdoors, hiking, exploring architectural styles of homes and relaxing/doing nothing.
What is your favorite ice cream flavor?
Coffee.
Do you have family, kids, or pets that you’d like to share something about?
A great dog! He’s a Papillon named Remy.
