In preparation for Tuesday’s tête-à-tête, Chamber Talk host Max Mandel sat down with some of this year’s Evnin Rising Stars to pick their brains about music, performance rituals, zombies, and more. Want to learn more about these emerging artists and the role of mentorship in their lives and in the classical tradition? Join us on Tuesday, October 21st for our salon-style conversation series Chamber Talk with Max Mandel featuring legendary pianist Leon Fleisher. You can also catch them on Saturday, October 25th and Sunday, October 26th as these young artists perform works by Beethoven, Mozart, Brahms, and Dvořák alongside their distinguished mentors.
M.M.: What was your most embarrassing moment in a lesson or a coaching?
Kenneth Renshaw, violin
Maximilian E. & Marion O. Hoffman Rising Star
“I was reading from a score off a laptop, when in the middle of the run-through I see ‘Windows installing updates, 1 hour and 30 minutes to complete, powering down…’.”
Shira Majoni, viola
Tondra & Jeffrey Lynford Rising Star
“I can’t remember a specific one, and I have a feeling it’s not a good sing… there must have been too many!”
M. M.: Which composer would you most like to have a beer with?
Kuok-Wai Lio, piano
Robert D. Hodes Rising Star
“Schubert!”
Shira Majoni, viola
Tondra & Jeffrey Lynford Rising Star
“Gideon Klein… I recently performed his string trio and am curious about him.”
M.M.: Are you more scared of the Zombie Apocalypse or stepping in at the last minute to perform a concerto you barely know?
Shira Majoni, viola
Tondra & Jeffrey Lynford Rising Star
“Rhetorical question; of course the second option is the scariest.”
Kenneth Renshaw, violin
Maximilian E. & Marion O. Hoffman Rising Star
“I think the Zombie Apocalypse is more frightening… if it’s a concerto I really don’t know, I can always just say ‘no.’ For the Zombie Apocalypse, I wouldn’t really have a choice — it would just happen!”
M.M.: Do you have any pre- or post-concert rituals?
Kuok-Wai Lio, piano
Robert D. Hodes Rising Star
“Going for a walk, if the weather permits.”
Shira Majoni, viola
Tondra & Jeffrey Lynford Rising Star
“Post: a cigarette and a drink. Not the healthiest, I know!”
M.M.: What’s your favorite thing to practice?
Kenneth Renshaw, violin
Maximilian E. & Marion O. Hoffman Rising Star
“Bach’s Sonatas and Partitas for solo violin. And my least favorite: Bach’s Sonatas and Partitas for solo violin…for different reasons”
Shira Majoni, viola
Tondra & Jeffrey Lynford Rising Star
“…scales… I know, right?!”
Leave a Reply