I really enjoyed this conversation with the wonderful violinist Aaron Schwebel who spoke with a lot of insight about so many interesting and important topics (timestamps are listed below). Aaron  currently holds the positions of Concertmaster with the National Ballet of Canada Orchestra and Associate Concertmaster with the Canadian Opera Company. Schwebel is a member of the LARK ensemble and Rosebud String Quartet, and is founder/artistic director of Echo Chamber Toronto, a series that merges chamber music and contemporary dance. We talk about his many and varied experiences, in terms of his development and his career. In separate bonus episodes you can hear him play some solo Bach, and we also do a little improv back and forth across the Zoom platform.

The video version is linked here, with the transcript and bonus episodes:

https://www.leahroseman.com/episodes/e10-s1-aaron-schwebel-violinist

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https://www.aaronschwebelviolin.com/

Timestamps:

(00:00) Intro and some of Aaron’s projects

(02:53) love of string quartet playing, London Quartet Competition

(10:53) effects of the pandemic shutdowns

(13:59) Aaron’s way of practicing

(15:13) role as Concertmaster

(17:55) singing lessons

(18:41) Muay Thai classes

(20:00) musicians' lives: balancing work, social life

(21:01) pandemic experience affecting priorities

(24:44) amateur and professional musicians

(27:24) summer music festivals Domaine Forget, NYO

(29:43) keeping performances fresh, Nutcracker ballet

(31:15) McGill University music program and Indiana University Bloomington Music

(33:23) teaching

photo credit: Bo Huang