Many musicians do, but my parents weren't musicians -- or even college educated.  My career path was a struggle.  My family had little money, and I'm from a small, uncultured community of about 18,000 people, where there was almost no opportunity for an aspiring classical musician.  The Pittsburgh Symphony was a major orchestra fifty miles away, but I never had the opportunity to attend their children’s concerts, or rarely any other type of performance.  I'm sometimes asked about my high school orchestra.  My answer:  There was none.  My school system was mostly about sports.  I once complained to my high school principal about this, and his response was that I could play in the school’s marching band.  I informed him that violins don't play in marching bands. “Well it’s just like playing the trumpet – you change fingers to get the different notes,” he explained.

I have many interests; I'm bilingual French/English; and might have pursued a career in writing, and perhaps broadcast journalism.  Or maybe I'd have been a comedy writer/humorist, or actor, among other possibilities.

Shortly after I became a member of the Orchestra, I was elected to the BSO “Players’ Committee” – a small group of Musicians who represent their colleagues to the Union, management, the press, and the public.  I spent at least 13 years on that committee, and was involved in five consecutive management/Musician contract negotiations.  This was unexpected, and indescribably fulfilling.

Many - including the human body, and how it interacts in concert – or in conflict -- with the forces of nature.  I'm very physical and athletic, and am particularly fond of extreme activities.  My athletic endeavors have included, among other things, tennis, scuba diving, skiing, and trapeze.  I also practice Yoga, and find Yoga inversion postures especially interesting.  I see them as unnatural -- humans usually support themselves by their feet.  I like breaking rules.

Yes, I jump from bridges hundreds of feet high – backwards or forward -- with one or both ankles attached to a bungee cord.  As with playing the violin, I try to do so with proficiency, accuracy, elegance, and skill.  This means, for example, good form and body alignment.

Yes, there have been sprains, back problems, dislocations, and eye issues from bungee jumping.  Or a jumper can panic, grab something he shouldn't touch, then injure his hand or a finger, but these problems are infrequent, especially for someone athletic.  It’s intense, and – again -- I get to break the rules of human nature – humans were not programmed to jump 500 feet toward the ground.  I'd also like to learn to be shot from a circus cannon, but that seems unlikely; the circus schools don't teach it.

Our primary objective never changes – it’s to make music – and to do so at the highest possible level of excellence.

Work hard and be nice to people.