Today we’d like to introduce you to Evin Blomberg.
Evin, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I started the violin when I was two and a half. I took violin lessons every week while I was growing up, and also played in youth orchestras, went to symphony concerts, attended music festivals, and so much more – my life was filled with music, and I loved it.
When I started my freshman year at Gunn High School in Palo Alto, California, I came to the realization that I really wanted to pursue music as a career and spend my time practicing and performing – so after two weeks, I dropped out of school. I spent all day learning music and practicing violin, while at the same time studying for the CHSPE (California High School Proficiency Exam). Within a few months, I passed the exam and had a successful audition at The Colburn School Conservatory of Music. I can still remember the day I received my acceptance letter – I was beyond excited! So, at the age of 15, I started my undergraduate studies with Robert Lipsett at The Colburn School in Los Angeles. I stayed for six years, earning my Bachelor of Music degree and Artist Diploma from The Colburn School.
After graduating from Colburn, I moved to New York to earn my Master’s degree from the Manhattan School of Music, where I studied with world-renowned violinist Pinchas Zukerman. Studying with Mr. Zukerman was incredible. His passion for music and violin playing inspired every single student, and he pushed every one of us to try to become the best version of ourselves. When my time in New York was finished, I was searching for the next step and found myself in London, England. I was freelancing in the London Philharmonic Orchestra, soaking in as much music and experience as I could, and eventually won an audition for both the London Philharmonic Orchestra and the Philharmonia Orchestra. But after two years I wanted to return to the U.S. and won an audition in 2019 for the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, where I am today.
I love playing in an orchestra and performing great masterpieces of music every single week for our audiences! But just as I was settling into my new position with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, COVID-19 spread around the world, forcing orchestras to halt all in-person performances. For a brief period, it felt like the arts were not missed at all, especially in the context of everything else happening around the world at the time. My whole life had revolved around music, and suddenly I was struggling to find a purpose.
But it wasn’t long before orchestras started to adapt by streaming digital performances and doing socially-distanced outdoor performances. All of a sudden there was an overwhelming response from people all over the world who felt that music (& arts/culture in general) was the only thing giving them hope during difficult times, giving them a positive reminder that life goes on and things will someday return to normal.
Seeing the impact of music and how it affected so many people gave me purpose again. So, while our orchestra’s performances were still relatively infrequent, my passion was reignited and I spent my free time practicing, working on solo projects, recordings, digital performances, competitions, and finding any way possible to continue developing as a musician. I also spent a lot of time talking to members of the community and figuring out ways to spread classical music throughout the community and reach more people with smaller performances, and in 2022, the Soli Music Society was born.
Music is a language that everyone can understand, and after seeing new life in the eyes of musicians and audiences after performances started up again, I decided I wanted to take action. I started the Soli Music Society because I wanted to create a platform for musicians to be able to play pieces they love for all kinds of audiences around the community, creating even more opportunities for classical music to reach people and impact their lives.
It could be a child hearing Mozart for the first time; a successful young executive discovering the sound of a quartet; or maybe even a young parent discovering classical music performances as a family activity. Classical music can be an inspiring experience for everyone, and I hope I can contribute even a little bit towards enriching our community!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
1. It’s never a smooth road, but that’s what makes the successes so rewarding. Obviously COVID-19 was a huge obstacle for performers and musicians, and in the heat of things it was difficult to imagine how we would ever return to stages and live performances. But it feels like that absence of live performances actually made many people appreciate live music so much more, and it’s exciting to see.
2. There could always be more diversity in the classical music world. It’s wonderful to see so many organizations recognize this fact and jump into action, but I think it’s important to think about and invest in the future generations of musicians, not just the here and now. Unlike most professions, the career of a musician actually begins at a very young age – when they first start an instrument. One of the goals of the Soli Music Society is to inspire new audiences, and this includes kids from a diverse range of backgrounds. All it takes is a little inspiration for kids to feel curious and explore music, and I’ve heard of many kids who go home after a performance and start asking their parents for music lessons!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a professional musician, and I play the violin. I feel very lucky that my profession has given me the opportunity to travel and perform all around the world, but now I want to focus more on my community and make an impact right here at home through the arts.
Any big plans?
I love being on stage, so I want to continue performing and sharing music as much as I can. Every time I meet someone new, I always ask them: “have you ever been to a classical music concert?” and I’m shocked how many times the answer is “no”! When I was little, my parents were very passionate about exposing my sister and me to music at a young age. That exposure is the reason I chose to become a musician, and I am extremely grateful to them. Through all of the Soli Music Society projects and performances, my goal is to keep growing classical music audiences and hopefully inspire them to make music a part of their own lives in some capacity.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.solimusicsociety.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/solimusicsociety/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/solimusicsociety
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/solisociety
Image Credits
Devyn Glista
St.Blanc.Studios
