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Lisa Grodin has been performing with Philharmonia since 1985. She shared her fascinating story on how she got started as a musician:

“When I was in preschool, my parents took me to services at a local synagogue, where I learned how to sing with the congregation by ear. When I was a bit older and able to read music, we regularly sang madrigals with a group of family friends. I played piano and guitar for a few years. As a fifth grader at Malcolm X School in Berkeley, I sang in the gospel choir and met the violin for the first time. Once I began studying violin privately with Anne Crowden and playing chamber music under her guidance,  I was completely hooked on music. Violinists were needed in the Malcolm X School orchestra, so I gave it a try. Robert Chacona, the music teacher, advised violin students that the violin had to become our best friend, and we must practice every day. I took his word for it. “

Lisa has always been a history buff, and historically informed performance was always compelling to her. When she was a teenager, her teacher let her try a Baroque bow as she prepared for a Junior Bach Festival audition. She instantly realized that the Baroque style bow was precisely the right tool for the job. Lisa attended Oberlin Conservatory, one of the first American institutions that offered an  early music program, and studied Baroque violin with Marilyn Macdonald, who to this day continues to be one of Lisa’s mentors and role models.

One of Lisa’s favorite memories with Philharmonia was performing the concertino part in a Corelli Concerto Grosso with violinist Lisa Weiss at San Domenico in San Rafael. Both musicians were extremely pregnant at the time, and their colleagues joked that they were like Tweedledee and Tweedledum.

When did you acquire your current instrument and what are some of its unique characteristics?

I acquired my Baroque violin in my senior year at Oberlin. It has a smokey, complex sound. I’ve acquired a variety of period bows over the years. Each of them is delightful to play.

What would you tell a first-time audience member to look for / listen for at a Philharmonia concert?

The audience’s participation is vital to the performance. Philharmonia’s musicians seek to passionately engage the audience in the moment. The audience’s facial expressions, laughter, applause, and gasps influence the music making.

Do you have any pets? If so, what is their name and do they like to listen to you practice? 

Sheba, a mastiff whom my husband and some windsurfers rescued from drowning in the San Francisco Bay; Kirk, a mostly feral sheepish dog; Viggo, an inquisitive jumper and dressage horse; Piñon, originally from a res and later a ranch horse who loves to hit the trail; and Django, also a ranch horse who is everyone’s boss. They tolerate music. Piñon likes it when I sing to him. Kirk prefers thunderstorms to my practicing.

Make sure to read about our other musicians at philharmonia.org/about/meet-the-musicians