Birthplace: Chicago, IL
Grew up: Chicago, IL
Started playing: 3 1/2 years old
Education: BM - Curtis Institute of Music
MM - Juilliard School
Began with CSO: 1995
Non-CSO Activities: Tennis, golf and training my dog Cleo
Favorite music: Jimi Hendrix, Frank Zappa, Ella Fitzgerald
In my iPod: I don't have one
Outside ensembles or groups: The High St. Four, The Niwa Duo, and Canaletto Ensemble
Main Teachers: Raymond Niwa, Aaron Rosand, and Szymon Goldberg
When not rehearsing or performing on stage with the CSO, I spend my time…practicing, and teaching both violin and tennis.
If I had not become a professional musician, I may have become a…Marine biologist - the ocean fascinates me.
To unwind, I listen to...NPR
In the car, I listen to...NPR
The last book I read was…Gulliver's Travels
The craziest thing I have ever done is…blew up a telephone (rotary) with a 1/4" stick of dynamite.
The non-musical accomplishment that I am most proud of is…Chicago City Parks tennis champion.
What is your guilty pleasure? If I feel guilty it's not pleasurable.
My favorite vacation is…wherever I'm with my wife, Mariko.
The last movie I saw was…Robin Hood (Errol Flynn)
To prepare for a performance, I…practice and rest (a lot)
If I could choose to play another instrument, it would be the…Piano
I also play the…Viola
My most embarrassing musical moment was…last night's Chabrier (4/23/09)
An extremely positive musical experience I have had was...playing for Nathan Milstein.
A profound experience, musical or otherwise, that has shaped or deeply influenced my approach to music would be…working with Aaron Rosand and Szymon Goldberg.
If I could spend a day with any composer, it would be…J.S. Bach