Today we’d like to introduce you to Steven Ansell.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Steven. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I started in public school at age 10 after playing piano for several years starting at age five. I wanted to play the flute, but was asked to play the viola, so I did. The school orchestra director didn’t have a violist yet!
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I have been very lucky in that I didn’t fail too often, but I never moved past the first round of any competition, and struggled with diplomacy early on, as I was not the smoothest stone in the river. Nerves were always a battle, but it appears that no one could tell. I have always worked very hard to be the best I could be. In our business, you have to have some equanimity.
Boston Symphony Orchestra – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
When I think about the BSO, I think about color, instruments that sing, blend, and great soloists in key positions. I think about high standards of music making on every level. We have a history of great French and European tradition, but the orchestra is very flexible and versatile, and specialties can shift over the years. And it helps to play in such a great Hall.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
If I had to start over, I might choose a different profession, perhaps a physician, a physicist, something in the sciences. But it seems that if you are a musician, you don’t have that choice, because music chooses you, it gets under your skin and into your core, and then you are directed by the Muse. Lots of people in the orchestra could do many other things, they are a multi-talented bunch.
Pricing:
- Tickets for Boston Symphony Orchestra start at $20 at www.bso.org.
Contact Info:
- Address: 301 Massachusetts Avenue
- Website: www.bso.org
- Phone: 617-266-1200
- Email: customerservice@bso.org
- Instagram: instagram.com/bostonsymphony
- Facebook: facebook.com/bostonsymphony
- Twitter: twitter.com/bostonsymphony
BSO concerts
Photo: Marco Borggreve
Boston Symphony Hall details
Photo: Marco Borggreve
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