Q&A with me! (Anna)

Hello there! So today, I interviewed myself. Not much else to say, I've known myself for the almost 25 years now, and it's been great!

Q. What inspired you to become a musician?

A. Both of my parents were professional musicians at one point, and when I started playing at 10 years old, I really wanted to play the violin. But alas, my mother told me, "No! It is too high and squeaky and I don't want to listen to you practice that thing! You can play the cello...." It turned out to be a pretty good idea. My first teacher was amazing, and really taught me how to love music. She would get so excited, and run around the room conducting and waving her arms around. It was so inspiring as a kid to see how someone could be so passionate about music! She definitely passed that on to me, and now I carry that through into everything I do.

Q. What is your favorite part about playing for weddings?

I love seeing the personal touches every couple brings to their ceremony and reception, whether its the decorations, their vows, the readings. Thats what weddings are about after all, the couple and what is special to them.

Q. What is your favorite type of music to listen to on your down time?

I'm in love with Lady Gaga right now. Her music is so much fun! Beyond her, there's a lot of different artists like Feist, Cold War Kids, Modest Mouse, The Shins, Ingrid Michaelson, Alexi Murdoch etc etc etc.....

Q. What do you do with yourself when you aren't playing your instrument?

I make jewelry, stationary, clothes, cook, garden, etc. I am always bursting with ideas, so any chance I get to be creative, I take it! I also go and visit my adorable nephew (pictured above at just 3 weeks old!) any chance I get. At 13 months, and first baby in the family, every little thing he does is just the cutest thing I've ever seen. And who knows...with his amazing harmonica skills, he might be the next HCM musician added to the roster, harmonica prelude anyone?

Q. What is your favorite part about living in Baltimore?

A. I love the people and the character of Baltimore. This city is not like any other, and there is so much charm and character - not to mention crabs, natty boh and utz potato chips! Which reminds me of my favorite billboard, which also happens to be wedding related - the one on Charles St, just north of Penn Station with the Natty Boh guy proposing to the Utz girl. Its the best!

Q. What is your favorite piece to play during ceremonies?

I love French impressionistic music, like Debussy's Claire de Lune, and the Flower Song from Lakme. They are so ethereal and romantic - perfect for weddings in my opinion.

Q. What type of music do you love to play?

I actually have a huge passion for contemporary music. I've premiered tons of pieces over the years and love introducing completely new music to audiences and seeing their reactions, its a great rush.

Q. What is the greatest thing about being a musician?

Being able to express myself through my music and sharing that with an audience.

Q. If you could give one piece of advice to a bride, what would it be?

Have fun with your music! Choose music that is special and important to you and your groom, this your day and everything about it should be personal!

Q. What was your favorite wedding?

My sisters! It was held at the Cloisters, and it was the most perfect evening ever.

A Beautiful Garden Wedding

This weekend, we had the wonderful pleasure to play for the Cylc wedding at the Naval Academy Alumni House in Annapolis, MD. I've always loved Annapolis - the adorable old houses, brick streets and small town feel , this was the perfect location for this beautiful little garden party wedding. We played for the cocktail hour inside the alumni house, which was decorated beautifully and the food looked amazing! We had a few guests request some selections from West Side Story, which is one our favorite pieces to play, and we always love to interact with guests and play music they love. We snapped a few pictures of the beautiful table layouts, and a few shots of the Quartet playing, which you can see below. Thanks to Chelsey and Jessica for joining us today, we always have such a fun time playing with these two girls.

Q&A Time with Rebecca Laird!

Hello! It's time for our first Q&A session here at the HCM blog. We're starting it off with the co-founder and violinist of Hill Chamber Music, Rebecca Laird. We met while teaching with an Inner-City Outreach Program and decided to form Hill Chamber Music shortly after. It's been so much fun working together, and becoming close friends while traveling and playing all over Maryland every weekend.

And now....lets get to know Becky a little better!

Q: What inspired you to become a musician?

A: When I was about three, I saw Itzhak Perlman on Seasame Street and ran into the kitchen to where my mom was...I remember she was making Rice Krispie Treats. I dragged her into the TV room and pointed to Perlman saying that "I wanted to make sounds like that." My parents made me wait until I was almost 5 to start playing. My mom still has my first violin, a 1/16 size!

Q. What brought you to Baltimore, and what made you decide to stay here?

I actually used to travel every Saturday as a little girl from Western Maryland to Baltimore for my violin lessons. Those drives with my mom were so long! She used to make me sing folk songs in the car!!! I eventually ended up moving here to do a Masters at Peabody, then stayed for a Graduate Performance Diploma, then another Masters, then got marrried, bought a house and got the dog! I never expected to be here so long, but now I love it!

Q. What is the best part about playing for weddings?

A.Weddings are full of happy people. You get to be a part of one of the happiest day of peoples lives...how could you not love doing that!

Q. What is your favorite moment from an HCM gig?

That would have to be playing Musetta's Waltz for the father daughter dance, we hit the climax of the piece right as the dad threw in an unexpected twirl and the audience went crazy. It was so moving!

Q: What do you do with yourself when you aren't playing your instrument?

A: I get pulled down the street by my 80 pound puppy!

Q: What is the best part about living in Baltimore?

A: I love being a Federal Hill resident. I love stopping in at all the little cute boutiques, talking to the dog owners on the hill, and sitting outside with a glass of wine at Metropolitan! It has such a small community feel, I don't feel like I am living in a big city at all, yet I get to enjoy all the luxuries and excitment of city life.

Q: What is the greatest thing about being a musician?

A: Instant entertainment! Whenever I get bored, I whip out my violin to learn a new piece or replay an old favorite.

Q: If you could give one piece of advice to a bride, what would it be?

A: To listen to a ton of music before selecting your wedding music. There are so many amazing pieces out there.

Q: Do you have a favorite wedding?

A: My own of course!!!!

Kristin and Cassidy Nuptials

This weekend, I had the wonderful pleasure of playing for Kristin and Cassidy's beautiful wedding at the Liriodendron Mansion in Bel Air, MD. This was our first time at the Mansion, and I was really impressed with the beauty and the ornate details. The wisteria covered porch made the perfect backdrop for the ceremony and, and the guests gathered there after for cocktails and dinner. Thanks to Catherine and Nati for playing, and to Kristin and Cassidy for having HCM accompany their gorgeous day! We had a great time - check out the photos below of us warming up and the happy couple exchanging their rings.

Stay tuned to find out what Becky was up to this weekend!

Updates and Things To Come....

I hope everyone had a fun and safe holiday weekend! It was nice to have a little break and have some time to relax, but it's right back to work this weekend. We're playing for a couple weddings this weekend, so stay tuned for some pictures and recaps early next week.

I have been working hard the past couple days and made some great updates to the website. We now have the complete repertoire lists for the Quartet, Trio and Duo posted online as well as Ceremony Music Suggestions for each ensemble. Since we are always arranging new music for clients our repertoire is always growing, so check back often to see what new music we are playing! I am currently working on arrangements of The Cure's, Just Like Heaven and Arcade Fire's Neighborhood 1 for a wedding in September.

Also...in the next couple weeks we are going to start our "Get To Know the Musicians of HCM" series where we will be doing some fun Q & A's with HCM musicians. We will start with me and Rebecca, so check back soon to get to know us a little better!

Thanks and have a great week!