Player Portrait

Joël Belgique

Principal Viola

First season with the Oregon Symphony:

1996-1997

Most influential teacher(s):

I can't think of a teacher that didn't influence me. I have strong memories as far back as my first teachers: Jeanie Pickering (Suzuki expert), Jack Ashton (so popular that my lessons were at 5:00 am), Mihail Bog-slavsky (the Russian task-master who threatened to use my viola as firewood if I wasn't improving), David Holland (Interlochen's finest), Heidi Castleman (she prepared me for life), David Dalton (my link to the greats), and Clyn Barrus (my ultimate role model in every aspect of my life).

Earliest musical memory:

My parents took me to a traveling suzuki violin show when I was four. I fell in love with the 5-year-old girl playing Vivaldi's A Minor ...

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

I knew I wanted to be a musician.

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

Food critic.

Favorite composer and/or period?

One of them would be Paul Hindemith. He was the first concert violist of this century, and wrote a lot of wonderful music for his instrument.

What do you enjoy most about performing?

Being part of a recreation; bringing what is on paper to life.

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

A city's worth can be measured by the success of its arts organizations. Our role is to live up to that expectation.

What is your favorite part of being a member of the Oregon Symphony?

The fine people I work with and the lovers of music who want to hear us play.

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