Violinist Robert Uchida is heading into a busy season. In addition to his role as concertmaster with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, he also has performances lined up with the Alberta Baroque Ensemble, and the Garneau String Quartet, the ensemble that he and his wife, violinist Laura Veeze, formed with violist Keith Hamm and cellist Julie Hereish.
How does he prepare with so many projects on the go? “I try to compartmentalize,” says Uchida. “Starting early and studying in advance helps me prepare. When I rehearse, I focus on one thing at a time, and trust that I will be able to address other things at a different moment. It’s a ‘take it slow to get there faster’ approach.”
The role of concertmaster is an added responsibility, one that Uchida enjoys. He says, “I facilitate rehearsals. I want to make sure we as the orchestra are understanding the conductor well. You might have a conductor say, ‘I want this to sound like the fog rolling over the hills of a Scottish cemetery,’ which is great! That’s an amazing image, but it can mean different things to different people. So sometimes there’s a little bit of a translator or liaison role in being the concertmaster.”
Uchida notes that the concertmaster sets the bowings for the string section of the orchestra and adds, “Often a composer will write a violin solo within a symphony, and I play those lines as well.” However, he also notes, “There are many leaders in the orchestra, and we all try to work together and communicate.”
Uchida grew up in Richmond Hill, Ontario. “I saw Itzhak Perlman on Sesame Street when I was three and a half,” he says, “and I started bugging my parents, asking if I could play the violin.” His parents do not have a background in classical music, but they learned about the Suzuki method and the fact that children could begin lessons on smaller instruments. “So I started at age four.”
When Uchida was fourteen, Itzhak Perlman came to play Brahms’ Violin Concerto with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Uchida, at his mother’s urging, told Perlman that he saw him on Sesame Street and was now playing the violin because of that. Perlman’s response was hilarious: “I’m sorry.”
Uchida studied at Unionville High School, which is a performing arts high school. Undergrad studies at the University of Ottawa and a Master’s in Violin Performance from the Manhattan School of Music in New York followed.
Uchida describes himself as “lucky” when he talks about his musical career, but there’s no doubt that soaring talent and hard work are also key parts of his story. Strings magazine has praised him for his “ravishing sound, eloquence, and hypnotic intensity.”
Now he finds himself firmly rooted in Alberta, having lived here since 2013. He is a violin instructor, and has volunteered many hours with community organizations, including Ronald McDonald House. “We absolutely love Edmonton,” he says. “We know all our neighbours, and our kids go to incredible schools. We’re just very grateful. Edmonton is a well-kept secret. The city, the community, and the orchestra have been wonderful to our whole family.”
On Saturday, October 4, host Aaron Au will preview the first concert of Alberta Baroque Ensemble’s season. Tune in to Classical Connections, 6am to 8am MT.
And tune in to Morningsong, Sunday, October 5, between 6am and 8am MT. Host Joe Hartfeil will look ahead to the ESO’s upcoming season and will play recordings featuring Robert Uchida as a solo instrumentalist. You’ll also hear his work within a duo, alongside Canadian pianist Philip Chiu.
You can also join host Lark Clark on Very Early Music from 8am to 9am MT on Sunday, October 5. Her program will include Telemann’s Tafelmusik Suite No. 3, which is part of The Alberta Baroque Ensemble’s program for its concert on that day!
Robert Uchida will perform with the Alberta Baroque Ensemble on October 5. Find information at albertabaroque.com
Information about The Garneau String Quartet can be found at garneaustringquartet.com
Find information about The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra’s season at winspearcentre.com
