“I’ve been playing second violin in this orchestra since 2010....

“I’ve been playing second violin in this orchestra since 2010.  It’s a big, beautiful house.  There are ninety of us who make music together.  We sit shoulder-to-shoulder.  It’s like singing in a choir.  And when everything comes together, it’s fantastic.  But you don’t always have the personal freedom to say what you need to say.  The conductor is in control.  It’s quite a narrow box that I’m in.  Some orchestra musicians are fine with that.  They don’t feel the need to do anything else.  They’re happy to put their violin in the case at the end of the day.  But I’ve always promised myself to fight against that.  To have dreams.  And not to lose the passion.  My husband is a jazz clarinetist.  We formed a wonderful little duo when we were young.  It was so much fun, but it never went anywhere.  We made one CD, but I was breastfeeding at the time.  We couldn’t really go touring.  Freelance is so hard with a family.  But we’ve always had this dream of playing together again.  I think he secretly hopes I could leave my job.  And we could really give it a try.  Our kids are grown now.  Maybe we can get something going.  We’ve been recording again.  We’re planning some concerts.  I think both of us are hoping to recapture a feeling.”
(Berlin, Germany)