Laurel Thomsen | Violinist

I'd always had an ear for song, but at six, music possessed me. Concerned, I told my mom that a recording I'd been listening to wouldn’t stop playing in my mind. “Don’t worry, that happens to me too,” my mom reassured. When I explained that it wasn’t just a little ditty but a whole orchestra, my mom said that that sounded like quite a gift. Encouraged, I made it a practice to get a song a day stuck in my head. After that, there was no turning back. As my song “Music Bug” put it, “Catch the bug you must succumb, no going back where you came from.”

I thrive on teamwork and collaboration. Whether as part of a duo, a six-piece band, or an orchestra, I have learned to transition seamlessly from a soloistic approach to a supporting role. And as technical as music and playing the violin or viola can be, my goal as an artist is to surpass convey a rich landscape of emotion. I want to create an atmosphere - like a set designer but through music, whether I'm sharing original music in concert, interpreting a Classical masterwork, setting the mood for a wedding, or rousing a crowd at a Rock or Bluegrass show. I hear music as a story. Vivid imagery and deep feeling move me beyond the auditory to experience music as a form of dynamic communication with my collaborators, my audience, my students, and my inner self.