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| Seasons with the SPO: | 14+ |
| Primary Instrument: | Cello |
| Degree: | B.A. English, Stanford University |
| Merits & Awards: | Various computer professional certificates and Society for Technical Communication awards (sorry, nothing in the music arena). |
| Special Career Performances: | A highlight is one of my soloist performances-- I played Jingle Bells in the sixth grade in front of the entire elementary school and my stand fell over; that’s when I discovered I had little skill as an improvisationist. |
| Ensemble work: | I have performed with quartets and other ensembles, chamber orchestras, and savoyard groups. |
| Occupation/ interests: | I’m singling-momming it with three absolutely wonderful children (two of my own plus my nephew). I am also a Technical Writing Lead in the Windows Server division at Microsoft; we write Help and really big manuals. In my spare time (cough, cough) I play the cello and piano and coax my little ones on their violins. I am a recovering quilter and have a tough time staying out of fabric shops. I write for fun (my job is also my hobby), and have recently started proofing public domain texts. I am a terrible house-keeper and have a messy desk (several, actually). Sometimes I sleep. |
| Memories: | I’ve had many events and mishaps as a musician that "built character." There are the memories of lugging a cello, a french horn, and a trombone to school in a rickety cart-- and once standing to defend my geeky self against a group of bullies (I lost, but the instruments were saved). There were the trombone slides lost in the flute section, the strings that broke and the bow that exploded during a concert, the ripped pants and the pratfalls on stage.
Then there was the time our band leader in college led us into the swimming pool (heavy jackets, ugly ties, fishing hats, and all), and I ended up going completely under and having to play on a very gurgly mellophone. There were the scatter-formation band rehearsals at 6 a.m. on the field with a hearty breakfast of beer and doughnuts, and then there was the year we became The Leland Stanford Junior University Marching Banned because we were stupid and offensive. There was the time that a big heavy piece of gym equipment fell towards my cello and landed full stop on the bridge, which miraculously supported its weight and saved my cello from shattering. There was the personal disappointment of knowing I would never be a concert musician, followed by the warm realization that the gift of music would always be a part of my life. My cello took me on a tour of Asia, brought me lasting friendship, and kept me sane through many tribulations. |
| First memory of classical music: | My first memory of classical music was the radio, which my father would turn on whenever I cried. He thought I quieted down because the music was soothing; but what I really wanted to say if I could speak was, "Shhhhhh, everyone, listen to this glorious sound!" |
| Favorite Composers: | In college, we played Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony in Japan accompanied by a chorus from Kyoto. I did not know until we got there that the Ninth had almost national-anthem-status in Japan. Playing the symphony itself is an exhilirating experience, and receiving a standing ovation like we did was also exquisite. But, probably the most moving experience I have ever had was that reverent pause between the last note and the first cheer. |
| Goals in progress: | I would like to work up an entire cello concerto, whether I play it for anybody or not. It took me ten years to accomplish that goal on the piano--I’m looking forward to the next ten on the cello! |
| Additional instruments: | I used to play the french horn and trombone, started learning the piano about 10 years ago, and still foster a dream to learn the viola, even though it is the brunt of many jokes. I would also like to learn the tamboura, didgeridoo, and bass guitar. |