065 Kimberlee Dray: Adaptability & Mission in Music Making

I'm incredibly happy that my guest today is violinist and composer Kimberlee Dray!  Kimberlee is an incredible example of adaptability, resourcefulness, and courage in the face of adversity, and I can't think of a better message to share today than her story!

In this episode, Kimberlee talks about her return to music – how she answered the call and how she let no obstacles stand in the way of her following her dream path.

Kimberlee strives to wake others who have allowed their music to lapse, inviting them back and standing as witness of the power of music to heal. She hopes her music will illustrate the potential of motivated work and the possibilities when one answers an inner call.

I drew so much inspiration from my conversation with Kimberlee, and I know you will too!  Let's go to the show!

 

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More about Kimberlee:

 

Website: http://kimberleedray.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greencasegirl/

The Share Music Society on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/611434913027504/

 

Kimberlee in the news:

https://fiddlershop.com/blogs/fiddlershop-blog/fiddlershops-music-is-for-everyone-series-kimberlee-dray

https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/local/a-vision-and-a-violin-yakima-woman-takes-a-non/article_06d9cfad-22c5-5ed5-9534-142a87b43f99.html

 

 

As the eldest of twelve children, family was always a central theme for violinist Kimberlee Dray. When music dreams naturally gave way to parenthood, Kimberlee followed the rhythm until she was diagnosed with Menieres Disease. Healing took the form of a highly motivated return to the violin; her subsequent dedication eventually lessened symptoms and brought on a remission.

Kimberlee's offbeat path led to performances in masterclass for luminaries such as Joseph Silverstein and Elmar Oliveira, to study with Aaron Rosand at Summit Music Festival and Sherry Kloss at the Heifetz Symposium, culminating in a three-year commute from Seattle to New York City to train with Nina Beilina of the Mannes School of Music. Juggling four children and advanced violin study required healthy doses of negotiating and creativity, bribes, begging, freezer meals.

Prior to her ten-year hiatus, Kimberlee was honored with the Clark Mathesius music scholarship, studying with Nell Gotkovsky at Brigham Young University, ultimately graduating in English literature.

Kimberlee has been honored to solo with orchestras and perform for recital series throughout the United States. She has premiered her own composition for solo violin at The Salon in Philadelphia and completed a commission for violin and piano premiered by Sherry Kloss at the Jascha Heifetz Symposium. She recorded a work for solo violin by Christopher Lacy and seeks opportunities to collaborate with other contemporary composers. An active recitalist, Kimberlee is particularly fond of lesser known works from twentieth-century American composers.

Kimberlee strives to wake others who have allowed their music to lapse, inviting them back and standing as witness of the power of music to heal. She hopes her music will illustrate the potential of motivated work and the possibilities when one answers an inner call.

 

 

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THANK YOU:

Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show's musical theme!  Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.

Also a HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly!

 

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