Meet Evin Blomberg | Violinist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Evin Blomberg and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Evin, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
I think taking risks is essential in life. I have learned the most from situations where I pushed myself to take a risk, regardless of whether the result turned out good or bad. When I think about my professional life, all of the important milestones I look back on happened because I decided to take a risk – in those situations, I accepted that failure was a possibility and didn’t let that hold me back. But I am still thankful for the failures along the way, too. Without those failures, I wouldn’t have learned from my mistakes and I wouldn’t have been able to grow into the person I am today.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My name is Evin Blomberg, and I am a violinist in the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and the Founder & Director of the Soli Music Society. I started playing the violin just before I turned three, and music has been a huge part of my life. I even dropped out of high school to have more time to practice the violin; thankfully it all worked out! I ended up passing the CHSPE (California High School Proficiency Exam) three years early and started my undergraduate studies at The Colburn School Conservatory of Music in Los Angeles, California at the age of 15. I studied there for six years, earning my Bachelor of Music degree and Artist Diploma.

After graduating from Colburn, I moved to New York to earn my Master’s degree from the Manhattan School of Music, where I studied with world-renowned violinist Pinchas Zukerman. Studying with Mr. Zukerman was incredible. His passion for music and violin playing inspired every single student, and he pushed every one of us to try to become the best version of ourselves. When my time in New York was finished, I was searching for the next step and found myself in London, England. I was freelancing in the London Philharmonic Orchestra, soaking in as much music and experience as I could, and eventually won an audition for both the London Philharmonic Orchestra and the Philharmonia Orchestra. But after two years I wanted to return to the U.S. and won an audition in 2019 for the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, which is where I currently work.

I am so thankful for the path that has led me to where I am today. I am very grateful that I get to do what I love, and it brings me so much joy to serve my community through music. In addition, I have the opportunity to explore other creative musical projects outside of my position with the symphony, and occasionally I also get to travel and perform as a soloist or chamber musician in other cities.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I am still discovering so many great things about the city of Cincinnati! I moved here just before the pandemic, so I didn’t get a chance to explore very much before everything shut down. But if I had to list the first three things that come to mind, here is what I would recommend to a friend: 1. First, visiting Music Hall for a Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra performance is a must! Music Hall has a very interesting history and is such a beautiful building both inside and out, and to experience a symphony orchestra concert there is truly magical.
2. Graeter’s Ice Cream. Those special Graeter’s chocolate chunks are absolutely delicious! My favorite flavor is the Mocha Chocolate Chip.
3. During the pandemic, I used to walk along the Ohio River every day – there is a path that runs past the Great American Ball Park as well as the many bridges that go between Ohio and Kentucky. The view during sunrise and sunset was so special, and parts of the path have some really beautiful natural surroundings.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My shoutout goes out to The Colburn School in Los Angeles, California. I spent six years at The Colburn School Conservatory of Music, where I earned my Bachelor of Music degree and Artist Diploma. Now that I have entered the professional world as a musician, I look back and realize how passionate the administration and faculty was about the growth and success of every student, and how much was invested into supporting the next generation of classical musicians. I learned things at The Colburn School that have helped me immensely in my professional life – for example, courses like “Working Musician”, “Healthy Musician”, and “Teaching Musician”, where I learned so many valuable skills outside of just playing my instrument. My violin teacher, Robert Lipsett, taught me how to better myself both as a person and as a musician. He emphasized the importance of self-discipline, quality above all, and to never settle when you know you can do something better. His teachings have stuck with me, and I sometimes find myself thinking back to lessons where he would share words of wisdom on life and music. The skills I learned at The Colburn School gave me the tools I needed to feel confident and prepared in the professional world, and in life.

Website: evinblomberg.com

Instagram: evinblomberg

Other: solimusicsociety.com

Image Credits
St.Blanc.Studios