Player Portrait

Kathryn Gray

Violin

First season with the Oregon Symphony:

1977-1978

Most influential teacher(s):

Richard Burgin was concertmaster of the Boston Symphony Orchestra for over 45 years and associate conductor of that orchestra for around 25 years. I studied with him in college at Florida State University, where he came to teach after his retirement from BOSO. He was a man who, because of his position, had known virtually all of the 20th Century composers and players. He was a tireless, consummate musician with a sense of humanity that affected all to come in contact with him. He taught me to serve the music, first and foremost, being very practical and non-dogmatic in the process. Given his enormous background, he was a very humble and unassuming man. He made a profound impression on me as a musician and as a human being.

Earliest musical memory:

I have several, all of which had major impacts on my life. The first was playing in Mrs. Stokes' piano recital. In the second instance, I was playing a solo violin part in "The Littlest Angel" (music written by yours truly) with a little school orchestra. Another memorable moment in my career came after I started taking private lessons at age 14. Right after that I went to a music camp and was seated in the principal second violin position. We started Beethoven's Fifth Symphony where the seconds have a canonic entrance separate from the first violins. I froze in terror and didn't play and was demoted to the back of the section in front of everyone! Humiliated, I swore never to freeze again, to make huge mistakes but never freeze with fright.

"I first knew I would make music my career when ... "

I never thought anything different, from the time I could conceive of it. But the choice of instrument came about because I was mad at the sister who played clarinet and sought solace with the sister who played violin! And I made this momentous decision while in the hot summer sun in South Alabama in a wading pool.

"Other than performing music, I've always thought it might be fun to be a ... "

An archaeologist, and discover ancient objects.

Favorite composer and/or period?

Probably Brahms, Mahler, Schumann, Mendelssohn — the general German Romantic group plus Bach — he's timeless!

What does this photograph say about your life?

This photograph points out that I am very devoted to all of my talented and hard-working students! I have taught violin since my college days. My students have gone on to schools like Julliard, Oberlin, San Francisco Conservatory and Guild Hall in London, pursuing music as a career. It is very gratifying to know that I have touched so many young lives and hopefully had a good impact on many, whether they go into music or not. Since my daughter, Alice, has gone away to college, my Corgi, Watson, keeps me company. He's faithful, smart, only talks back occasionally, and never refuses to eat the food I give him! When not otherwise occupied, I enjoy cooking, gardening, and going antiquing!

What do you enjoy most about performing?

I enjoy performing on two levels. Personally, it gives me an arena to challenge myself to become a better musician. It leads me into that magical land of nonverbal beauty, probing spiritual depths within me. Secondly, the outward results of all that inward attention is the sharing of this bliss with others, perhaps being a part of a magical experience for them. There is a special communication that happens between musicians playing together that circles out to include and feed off of an audience.

Other than playing great music, what do you see as the Symphony's most important role?

The Symphony has a great responsibility to educate young people. Hearing a symphony orchestra should not be the private property of few, but a reasonable expectation for many.

Musician Moment Player Portrait