Click here for a brief biography
of Julie Gigante, Violin I.

QWhat instrument do you play, how did you choose it and when did you start it?
A I play the violin. I started taking piano lessons when I was 8 years old, and I added the violin a short time later. My mother was a violin teacher and my sisters all played instruments, so it only seemed natural that I would follow in their footsteps and learn how to play.

QDid you like to practice when you first started? How much do you practice now?
A I always enjoyed playing the violin, but I haven’t always enjoyed practicing. It takes a lot of discipline and hard work to become a professional musician, but it is well worth the effort.

How much I practice now depends on what I am preparing for. To keep my fingers in shape I must play every day. It is sort of like being an athlete! There is a saying among musicians that if you miss 1 day of playing your instrument you know, if you miss 2 days your colleagues know, and if you miss 3 days the audience knows.

Q Where were you born?
A I was born in Norfolk Virginia.

Q What do you like to do in your free time?
A I like to be with my family in my free time. I also like to cook, read, and go to the movies.

Q What was the last good movie you saw?
A I like obscure foreign films that no one has ever heard of or seen.

Q What was your biggest thrill onstage? Scariest moment? Most embarrassing moment?
A I have had a lot of wonderful moments on stage, and many of them were with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. One of my most embarrassing moments happened in my audition for the orchestra. I dropped my bow in the middle of a difficult passage!

A scary moment happened when I was playing a concert that was also broadcast live on the radio. While I was playing, I realized that the pages of my music were mixed up and in the wrong order. I don’t think anyone noticed because I turned the pages back into the right order very quickly, but I was a nervous wreck until the end of that piece.

Q What was your favorite thing to do as a kid that wasn't about
music?
A I have always loved to read.

Q What are your favorite sports? TV shows? Foods?
A I like winter sports, old movies on TV and Italian food.

Q How long have you been a member of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra?
A Since 1985.

Q If you weren't a musician what would you be and why?
A I have always only wanted to be a musician.

Q How do you feel when you play your instrument?
A I have felt just about every emotion there is while playing the violin.

Q What do you do before a concert?
A I try to stay focused and keep myself calm.

Q Do you get nervous before performing?
A It depends on how hard the concert is and how exposed my part in it will be.

Q Do you have children? Do they play an instrument? What instrument?
A James is 9 and plays the piano, and Annmarie is 6 and plays the violin. I think it is very important for children to have some sort of musical education.

Q Did you always want to be a musician?
A YES!

Q Who is your all-time favorite musician?
A Wow, there are so many great musicians that it would take too long to answer that.

the end of interview!