VC WEB BLOG | Violinist Joshua Brown - "My New Journey With My New Guarneri" [BLOG]

In a VC-exclusive blog, Joshua expresses his appreciation for his new musical companion - and tells us what he feels it will mean for his emerging career.

 

"About a week ago, I received an unexpected call from the Stradivari Society. To my surprise, they offered me the amazing opportunity to try out a 1679 Pietro Guarneri violin, with the possibility of a long-term loan. Two days later, I went to Bein & Fushi to see the instrument. I played the violin for the first time, and from the very first notes I knew that it was a truly special instrument. I auditioned a few days later, and was thrilled to become the new recipient of this great instrument, and so happy to be able to take it home with me and begin my new journey with it.

From what I understand, the Stradivari Society chose me for a number of reasons, including recommendations they had received from Alan Heatherington and Vadim Gluzman. I was lucky enough to have met Alan Heatherington a couple of years ago when I performed with the Ars Viva Symphony Orchestra, which he conducted. Also, I will be playing at Vadim Gluzman’s North Shore Chamber Music Festival this June, and I was named the Festival’s 2017 Haag/Galvin Young Artist and the Arkady Fomin Scholarship Recipient. Unbeknownst to me, both men are close to the Stradivari Society and put in a good word for me.

I’ve only had it for a week, but every day I discover more colors and possibilities. Having such an amazing violin has opened up so many new ways in which I can express myself through music, and as my relationship with this wonderful instrument continues to develop, I look forward to discovering new and unexpected sides of the violin's character, as well as all the colors, shades and nuances it can produce. It will be an exciting journey and I can't wait to see where it will take me.

I am so thankful to Suzanne Fushi, Mary Galvin, and my patron at the Stradivari Society for their incredible generosity and their belief in me, and I will be forever thankful to both Mr. Heatherington and Mr. Gluzman for having faith in my potential and for caring enough to do this for me.  As I continue to travel this road toward a career in violin, I am so excited to have the Pietro Guarneri as my companion.  The violin will provide me with so many more ways to express myself as an artist, but it will also be a constant reminder that there are some wonderful people in the world who believed in me and cared enough to do something about it.

-Joshua"