Emily S. Richardson shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Emily S., thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
Good question! As a freelance violinist, the first 90 minutes of my day looks really different pretty much every single day. When I have the time (and Houston weather hasn’t failed me), I get out immediately for a run, and then I come home and enjoy a tea or coffee. Other times, I’m immediately out the door for a morning rehearsal or practicing for the next thing!
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi! I’m Emily, a classically trained violinist living in Houston, Texas. As a musician, I get to travel so many places for my work – recently Atlanta, Boston, San Diego, and even Switzerland! I was trained classically, and that’s still my specialty, but I really love fiddling and playing folk music, especially with my group called ARCOnaut Trio. But the best thing about my work in music is that I get to work with really amazing people who also happen to be world-class musicians!!
Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
So many people have believed in and supported me in my music career. If I had to pick one person who has had a lasting impact, it would be my high school music theory teachers. They taught me how magical and fascinating music can be, and they would encourage me to always explore and find new meaning in the music that I play! They’d always come to performances and be watching from the audience with a smile.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Absolutely! During my studies as a Violin Performance major, I sustained a tendon injury that lasted around four years. It was a really difficult time – I would have to take entire months off of my performance schedule. I wasn’t sure if I would ever recover from it and end up playing violin without pain ever again, and keep in mind: before this event, I had pretty much played violin for every single day of my life! I felt lost.
Eventually, through TONS of physical therapy and other body awareness techniques, I was able to figure out what was causing the issue. It took a long time!! But I couldn’t imagine life without violin, so I was really thankful to return to it healthily again.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
Music itself is a lifelong project! There’s always some technique to improve, different interpretations to consider, new music to discover, and more awesome people to collaborate with. That’s the beauty of it – there’s endless possibility in the art form. And it engenders powerful emotions in people who listen. Often, I find myself incredibly moved by a piece of music, whether it be Bach, Art Tatum or Billie Eilish. It’s a wonderful thing to be committed to!
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. When do you feel most at peace?
I feel the most at peace at home with a big mug of tea and my violin, going through a big technique book of scales and arpeggios. Doing technique work is sort of the musical equivalent of diligently eating your vegetables! But I find my technique work to be extremely satisfying, and I find a lot of joy in the steadiness of the practice. Plus, I usually treat myself to tea, which makes the experience extra peaceful and nice for me!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://emilysrichardson.com/
- Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@emilys.richardson
Image Credits
Geremy Kornreich
