Holly Mulcahy

Last night’s concert started off just like any other concert; the lights went down, the orchestra tuned, and the conductor came out bowed to the audience. What happened next caught me by surprise. Immediately after the conductor took his bow he assertively turned to the orchestra and gave the downbeat. What resulted was an energy in the hall that was driven by anticipation followed by a feeling of relief when the first phrase of music was completed. This might not seem like an unusual event but in the last several years of … Continue Reading

“You’re paid?!” It’s the question every professional musician hears at one time or another. The conversation usually goes something like this: Patron: “We really enjoyed your performance today. My wife and I were just remarking how beautifully the ensemble played together. How long did it take to get that tough piece together?” Musician: “Glad you enjoyed the piece, we had four rehearsals this past week.” Patron: “Wow, four? That is amazing! How do you find the time in the week with work?” Musician: “This is my job.” Patron: “You’re paid!?” Unfortunately, this isn’t a rare occurrence. In … Continue Reading

I remember the day I received “The Talk”. At 15 years old, I was just starting to realize that I wanted to be a professional musician. After feeling the thrill of youth orchestras and the exhilaration of summer music festivals, it was evident to me that this is how I wanted to spend my life. I informed my violin teacher that I wanted to audition for a music conservatory and then spend my life in either the Boston Symphony or maybe Chicago. I told him that “I’d like to be concertmaster” and … Continue Reading