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Meet Ralph Kirshbaum, Cellist and Mentor for the 2010 Rising Stars |
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Home > What's New > Caramoor Blog > Meet Ralph Kirshbaum, Cellist and Mentor for the 2010 Rising Stars
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November 5, 2010
“In this interview, distinguished cellist Ralph Kirshbaum talks about his experience at Caramoor during the Rising Stars week and discusses the memorable moments in his career. Enjoy!” – Alison Shearer
You have had a successful and varied career as a soloist, chamber musician, pedagogue and administrator. Focusing on that last aspect, can you tell me about the work you’ve done with various festival, notably the RNCM Manchester International Cello Festival that had a successful run from 1988 to 2007?
The Cello Festival was fascinating, intense, demanding and above all inspirational. It began as a simple fund-raising event, put together in six months, and grew into a major international event, which touched the lives of many cellists and music lovers from around the world. I am currently organizing a similar festival in Los Angeles, which will take place in March 2012.
Two of this year’s rising stars are graduates from the Thorton School of Music where you are currently teaching. What has it been like working with your students in a professional setting as opposed to a classroom one? Do you enjoy teaching as much as you do performing?
It has been a joy to work here with Alice and Cindy; they both play so beautifully. To be honest, the experience here is a natural extension of the work we have done together before. Lessons and coachings have one primary goal: the freedom to express music in a thoughtful, imaginative, and personal way. I always treat my students with respect and demand the same concentration and musical integrity that I ask of myself. I love teaching— the whole developmental process. The “high” of a student’s progress and successful performance is equal to that of any performance of my own.
You have recorded, performed, and taught all over the world. What are some of the highlights and memorable moments of your career?
Some of my most memorable moments center around the Six Suites of Bach. One such moment was here at Caramoor almost 20 years ago. I was scheduled to come play an evening of three suites. Mother Nature did her best to intervene; on the day, everything was frozen, including the roads from Manhattan, which were like an ice rink. Somehow I arrived, having driven with clenched fists for almost two hours. After three minutes of warming up, I played the program to a very patient audience – they had waited twenty minutes. I also performed the six suites as part of the San Francisco Jazz Festival. The venue was like a large cathedral; I could hear every note 12-15 times from the reverberation! My favorite recording of my own is the complete Bach Suites.
Can you tell us how the week here went? Any advice for the Rising Stars?
The week at Caramoor was joyful, invigorating, and inspirational. The young artists, astutely selected by Pam, are of an exceptionally high standard. They have worked hard, listened carefully, and performed wonderfully well. My advice to those young stars is to continue doing exactly that!
In the life of a musician, we traverse a long, winding, and sometimes unpredictable road. There are inevitably disappointments and frustrations along the way; but there is always the music and the passion and curiosity to serve it well. They have all exhibited these qualities during this week. It augurs well for their futures, and I wish them good luck, success, and happiness as they continue on their life-long musical adventures. Leave the first comment
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