JAVS Fall 2003

FRESH FACES CA,:HY BASRAK

M. Klein International String Competition. Other accomplishments include the Grand Prize in the 1994 General

Even with her competition success, Basrak was aware of the difficulties ofattempting to pursue a solo career as a violist, since well-known per formers such as Kim Kashkashian and Tabea Zimmermann are also anchored by reaching positions. "I understood the apparent lack of interest on the part of presenters ro program violists in solo engage ments (even here in Boston I haven't seen a viola soloist come through to play with the orchestra in the last three years) ." On the other hand, Basrak had been in a suing quarter for a few years in college that explored the career options, including competi tions and management, open to young ensembles. However, the reality of juggling rehearsals, per formances, reaching appointments and the traveling lifestyle gave her pause abour choosing that path. Considering d1e benefits ofan orchestral job, Basrak says: "We get the privilege of yearly tours (usual ly), we play in great halls, we are fmancially secure, and our schedules provide us the opportunity to explore other interests, as well as consider the option of a family." She also credits Roberto Diaz (who had solo, chamber and orchestral experience professionally) with helping guide her decision malcing. Initially, Basrak considered audi tioning for a section posicion in the Philadelphia Orchestra in

Motors/Seventeen Magazine National

Concerto Competition and the 1996 American String Teacher's Association Competition, First Prize in both the 1995 William Primrose Memorial Competition and 1995 Julius Srulberg Auditions, and Second Prize in the 46th

International Music Competit ion of the ARD in Munich in

What It Takes to Win an Orchestra Audition By Lembi Veskimets We all see the ads in the International Musician advertising viola positions in major orchesrras, but have you ever wondered just what the person who ended up fill ing that position did to get the job?Well, read on for the srory of how Cathy Basrak, a young Curtis student, won the position of Assistant Principal Viola of the Boston Symphony Orchesua. The reason Cathy Basrak's name might ring a bell is because she has been quite successful, to say the least, on the viola competition cir cuit. She was the first violist to win the First Prize in the 1995 Irving

1997. For many violists, begin ning with the great William Primrose and including Basrak's current stand partner and member of the Muir Quarter, BSO's p rin cipal violist, Steven Ansell, navi gating rhe worlds of solo and chamber music opportunities and playing in a symphony orchestra is a natural passage. Basrak comments about the deci sion to rake an orchestra audition versus pursuing a solo or chamber music career exclusively, saying, "I don't think I even made a concrete decision to pursue an orchestral career, [but] it did occur to me that after I graduated from Curtis I should probably have an idea of what I would do next".

VOLUME 19

NUMBER 2

49

Made with FlippingBook Digital Publishing Software