not mr. benny's violin...pt 2

not mr. benny's violin ...pt 2 

    

                                                                       

   Zara Christopher is a classically trained violist and violinist and the district manager of Old Town Violins in Lexington and Louisville Kentucky.  She achieved her goal of playing in an orchestra, but, that career was short-lived due to a hand injury.  Zara was forced to carve a new musical path.  She played for several orchestras in Arizona and Michigan before her mishap.

  Regina and I traveled to Lexington earlier this month to interview Miss Christopher with permission from the owner of the business.   Part I was published two weeks ago today.  This is the conclusion of that interview.

  Do you ever have older or retired people who come in and want to learn something new?

  Oh, yes, all the time, she smiled.  Just the other day an older gentleman came in and asked if he could  learn to play the viola.  He said he wanted to keep his mind sharp and keep new connections going on in his brain.  I assured him if he wanted to learn he certainly could do so.

  You are trained to play both the violin and viola.  Do you favor one over the other?  

  Well, I prefer the sound of the viola, but, I like playing the violin because it is smaller, she said. 

  Even though you no longer perform in an orchestra, you still play professionally.  

  And, I love it, she smiled.  I play in a group called Electria.  We are the only group in Kentucky playing an electric violin, viola, and, cello.  

  What is your favorite venue?  Where do you like to perform?

  Hands down my favorite performances are when my string trio plays corporate events, Zara told me. We arrange our own music and we are all classically trained.  We play current music and we get hired for corporate events all the time.  

  Do you have such a thing as a favorite kind of corporation or company?

  Definitely,  Horse farms.  We love to play horse farms.

  So, you are talking big boy corporate dollars.

  Oh, yes, she laughed.  We are talking about big money.

  Tell me about a performance you gave that was different from anything you had done up to that time.

  I was playing for a wedding out in Phoenix, Arizona and it was at a NASCAR race, she recalled.  We were right at the finish line and we were outdoors.  The wedding was scheduled for between races but the race was postponed because of rain.  

  So, the wedding was postponed too?

  Oh, not at all, she shook her head.  You know how it is, everyone was hired for that specific time.  We were playing prelude music and the cars were coming down the track.  I thought the race had started because they were so loud, but, they were just practicing.  

    That had to be interesting. 

  It was, she agreed.  I had my violin under my chin, but, I couldn't hear a single note.  The next thing I know, they started the race and the noise really got loud!  None of us could hear ourselves play.  It was so funny.  

  What is the difference for you between performing and teaching?  Is one harder than the other?

  There's a lot more emotion involved in performing, she revealed.  Being a single mom I only have so much emotion to give.  Managing the store, I get to help people, but, there isn't any drain on my emotions.  It's more organizational.  One task at a time.  

  I imagine you feel responsible for the outcome when you perform, but, not so much when you teach.

  That's right, she concurred.  I am not responsible for anyone's success.  That's up to them.   My job is to put quality instruments in the hands of young musicians.   

  How about activities away from music?  Any hobbies?

  I recently discovered Pickleball and I love playing, she confided.  I'm not very good, but, I enjoy it.

  Do you consider yourself a role model?  Someone girls can admire?

  Yes, but, not because someone told me, she replied thoughtfully.  I have had students go into teaching and it warms my heart.  It makes me happy,  I know I had a role in that.  Sometimes lessons become little counseling sessions because kids need someone to talk to and the next thing I know, they are sharing personal things with me and they just want me to listen.  

  You are a young woman who has achieved a great deal.  What is ahead for you?  Do you have a goal in sight?

  I want to buy a house, she offered.  That's something I am working towards right now.  I want to buy a house. 

  One of the beautiful advantages of doing what you do is you never have to give it up.  You can play music for a long, long time. 

  Yes, she said.  And, that's another reason I love working here is because our owners support all of us. They are highly supportive of each one of us.

  Zara Christopher, thank you very much.

  Thank you for coming here.

  Coming up:  Another oddities, observations, & ?'s;  a POS (People Over Sixty) conversation, and; an interview with a third generation car wash owner.    

  And, finally.   A tip of the proverbial hat to my two grandsons, Leo and Dallas, whom you may have met last January 10th in The Next Generation of George Boys.    

  The boys were on a team with four others who went to Michigan State University in East Lansing for the finals of  Odyssee of the Mind.  OM teaches students how to solve problems using their own skills. 

  There are four divisions, Elementary, Middle School, high school and college.  

  30 countries participated in this annual event.  The finals were narrowed down to the best 46 teams from Elementary schools worldwide....and, when all was said and done, Leo and Dallas and their four compadres placed 9th out of 46!

  Regina and I salute them and every participating team.  

  HUH?  What's up with that?