Holly Mulcahy

After hearing Scheherazade at an early age, Holly Mulcahy fell in love with the violin and knew it would be her future. She currently serves as concertmaster of the Wichita Symphony Orchestra. She spends her summers at the celebrated Grand Teton Music Festival. Believing in music as a healing and coping source, Holly founded Arts Capacity, a charitable 501(c)3 which focuses on bringing live chamber music, art, artists, and composers to prisons. Arts Capacity addresses many emotional and character-building issues people face as they prepare for release into society. Holly performs on a 1917 Giovanni Cavani violin, previously owned by the late renowned soloist Eugene Fodor, and a bespoke bow made by award winning master bow maker, Douglas Raguse.

Not Bad For a Local Boy

Fri, Feb 26, 2016Mon, Mar 5, 2012 by Holly Mulcahy

Upon getting my website redesigned, the developer recommended including a page about my violin. He asked me to write a little blurb about it and include something that makes it personal and special to me in addition to the obligatory who owned it, who made it, etc. Remembering how the violin found me was quite a nice memory and a little bittersweet since the person I purchased it from passed away this time last year. I had all but given up finding “the” violin, but while visiting my parents in my home … Continue Reading

Ignorance, Stupidity, And A New Year’s Resolution

Fri, Jan 6, 2012 by Holly Mulcahy

I often take for granted how much musical knowledge has been stuffed into my head since the first time I picked up a violin at age 10. And like many of my colleagues who have equal or more knowledge than me, it is so easy for us to judge others ignorance or stupidity when they thoughtlessly criticize the career of a musician. So easy is it for me to get up on my soap box and defend the ubiquitous and offensive comments people make in the online newspaper articles about any given … Continue Reading

Yelp Me Out

Tue, Aug 27, 2024Mon, Dec 5, 2011 by Holly Mulcahy

Who doesn’t like to feel like their opinion counts? One of the best things about the internet is the ability to share opinions on any number of things or services. It’s satisfying and empowering. Using reviews from one of my favorite websites, Yelp.com, I have found my hair dresser, dry cleaner, and restaurants that would have otherwise been overlooked but are now some of my regular favorites. The reviews are not only helpful, but Yelp encourages interaction by allowing users to acknowledge the value of reviews by rating them “useful,” “funny,” or … Continue Reading

Audition This!

Sat, Jan 29, 2022Mon, Nov 7, 2011 by Holly Mulcahy

Audition is such a dirty word sometimes. But every orchestral performer has to go through the experience at one point or other. The other day I was exchanging audition stories with a couple of colleagues over dinner. This kind of conversation almost always goes the same direction: 1)Auditions are not always the best way to find a performer 2) When an orchestra decides not to hire anyone after a day of auditioning it is never good for the orchestra 3) There is not really any other fair way of selecting a future colleague of an ensemble.

The Art of Complaining About the Arts, Part 2

Wed, Oct 5, 2011 by Holly Mulcahy

Last month included a self test to help us think before complaining and consider a more constructive approach rather than complaining for the sake of complaining. This month I wanted to bring forward the merits of a good complaint and where complaints come from in the first place.

There will always be a need to keep some complaints in the general view for all to see. This is how we can try to get change for the positive in the classical music world. While complaining can look negative, healthy complaining and voicing concerns gently forces an important view or point to encourage positive change or understanding.