The Musicians
Helen Kirklin (Viola)
Member of the JSO: Since 1984
Education: B.A. from Wellesley College, with graduate work at Vanderbilt and Indiana Universities.
Why the violin? Helen’s first instrument was violin, which she started in a public elementary school in Rochester, Minnesota. “Chamber ensembles from the high school came to play for us, to introduce the instruments. As soon as I heard the string quartet, with the incredible singing sounds of bows on strings, I knew I had to be a string player, to make THAT sound.”
Music I enjoy: “These days, I've been enjoying listening to Otis Redding, Mark O'Connor's Hot Swing Trio, and Gil Shaham's Brahms Violin Concerto.”
Family: Helen lives in Gainesville, Florida where her husband is a professor of film studies at the University of Florida. She is a viola instructor at the U.F. School of Music and also teaches privately in Gainesville. She has two daughters.
Interests: “When I'm on vacation, I like to hike in the mountains, and in the past two years have been exploring underwater scenery scuba diving with my younger daughter.”
Favorite JSO moment: “My most recent high point (there have been many) is the All-Strauss concert and the opportunity to perform the Four Last Songs.”
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