Tuesday, December 1, 2009Meet the Musician: Úna O'Riordan, CellistIf the name Úna Fionnuala O'Riordan doesn't tip you off that the DSO's newest cellist is Irish through and through, her bright blue eyes and thick mane of wavy red hair should certainly do the trick. O'Riordan is, in fact, a first generation Irish-American whose parents moved to the United States when her father, an engineer, was transferred from Ireland to Chicago. Although she was born here, O'Riordan still has deep roots in her parents' homeland."My mother has 10 siblings, and I have about 35 first cousins in Ireland," she said. "I've visited a number of times over the years. Usually at family get-togethers there's a lot of storytelling and music-making going on, and everyone ends up participating in one way or another. I'm grateful when there's a cello around, because singing is definitely not my strong suit!" O'Riordan began playing the cello at age 4 after hearing a string instrument demonstration in her kindergarten class. When her family relocated to the Washington, D.C. area when she was 9, she continued her musical education. She went on to attend the Interlochen Arts Camp in 1992 as an Emerson Scholar and returned for the next two summers. There, she took a master class with DSO cellist Paul Wingert, and as a member of the camp's World Youth Symphony, she was partnered with another DSO cellist, Marcy Chanteaux, when the DSO played a side-by-side concert with the youth ensemble. O'Riordan received a Bachelor of Music with Distinction from the Eastman School of Music where she was named an Arts Leadership Scholar. She continued her studies as a graduate student at the Northwestern University School of Music as a recipient of the Eckstein Grant, a two-year, full-ride fellowship. During her time at Northwestern, she was a winner of the school's concerto competition and performed as a soloist with the Northwestern University Symphony Orchestra. At the same time, she was co-principal cellist of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago under the batons of Daniel Barenboim and Pierre Boulez. After graduating, O'Riordan won positions with the Sarasota Orchestra (assistant principal cellist), the Sarasota Opera (principal cellist) and the Oregon Symphony. While in Oregon, she also had the unique opportunity to play with two acts that were far removed from the symphony world: Michigan native and award-winning indie rocker Sufjan Stevens and Pink Martini, the "little orchestra" from Portland, Or. that melds jazz, Latin and multiple ethnic influences to create what might be described as "world lounge" music. O'Riordan continued her relationship with Pink Martini and performed with the ensemble in Los Angeles' Walt Disney Hall on New Year's Eve, 2003, soon after it opened. She was also a guest artist on Pink Martini's album, Hey, Eugene, recorded in 2007. In 2001, while living in Florida, O'Riordan was invited to perform as a last-minute substitute cellist with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra on their 12-city European tour. "The tour began in Ireland, and we landed in Dublin the morning of my birthday. There were even a few of my aunts waiting at the airport to greet me…it was such a great birthday present. Joining the tour was a great professional opportunity, and seeing family I hadn't seen in over 5 years was icing on the cake." O'Riordan won her coveted section position in December 2006, and earned her tenure a year later. She loves working with the DSO which she says has a great sense of camaraderie that is not always found in professional symphonies. She also feels proud to play in the historic Orchestra Hall and is extremely excited about having Leonard Slatkin as the new Music Director. "There was just an immediate chemistry with him," she said. "The orchestra sounds fantastic when he's on the podium." Outside of her work with the DSO, O'Riordan can be heard playing with various musicians in the Detroit area. Upcoming performances include a duo recital with Principal Cellist Robert DeMaine, chamber recitals with Sharon Sparrow, and collaborations with members of New Music Detroit. She recently worked as a cello coach with actress Lake Bell for her role as a jazz cellist in the upcoming film "Little Murder," which was filmed in Detroit. In addition to her private teaching studio, she is a faculty member for the DSO's Power of Dreams String Project. In her free time, she does pilates and yoga to stay strong and recently started salsa lessons with DSO oboe fellow Geoffrey Johnson. "Our goal is to hold our own on the dance floor in Miami at the end of the upcoming Florida tour next February!" O'Riordan lives in Plymouth and has become very fond of her adopted home. "Detroit has a rich cultural history, but it also has a vibrant community of artists and musicians who are defining and shaping the Detroit of tomorrow, and I'm proud to be a part of it." Labels: Meet the Musician, Noteworthy |
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