Heather Lambert
she/her
violin
Hometown: Plano, TX
Alma maters: University of North Carolina at Greensboro, M.M., 2021; Texas Tech University, B.M., 2018
Photos by Matt Dine
Awards/Competitions
Assistant Concertmaster, Asheville Symphony Orchestra; Principal Second Violin, Western Piedmont Symphony
Appearances
Round Top Festival Institute, 2021; Meadowmount School of Music, 2018
What is your earliest memory of classical music?
When I was around five or six, I remember falling asleep in the back of a car ride home to an orchestral piece that had come on over the radio. It was dark outside, the volume was lower than normal, and the sound of the string section was so lush and dreamy it created a perfectly serene atmosphere I won’t ever forget.
What is your favorite piece of music, and why do you love it?
It changes from time to time, but right now my favorite piece is Claude Bolling’s Suite for Violin and Jazz Piano Trio. It’s a unique, showy piece for the violin, and I also like that one of the movements is played on the viola.
What do you like most about being in TŌN? Any favorite memories?
The thing I like most about TŌN is the amount of repertoire we get to play each semester. I’ve had to learn how to practice and prepare for our next concert on my own while simultaneously rehearsing and performing a completely different concert. The pace is a lot quicker than any other orchestra I’ve played in, but I like how closely our schedule resembles the schedule of a professional orchestra.
What has been your favorite experience as a musician?
I had a formative experience playing Schumann’s Piano Quintet in E-Flat Major with an amazing group of people at a summer music festival, and it still takes me to a sentimental, inspired place every time I listen to it.
Favorite non-classical musician or band
Several of my favorites are Hiatus Kaiyote, Jacob Collier, Punch Brothers, and Crumb.
If you could play another instrument, what would it be?
I’m not sure I would choose to play a different instrument, but I might change genres. I’d love to specialize in jazz violin.
If you weren’t a musician, what would you be doing?
Landscape architecture
Tell us something about yourself that might surprise us
Two of my hobbies are sewing and knitting! A few of the things I wear are handmade.
Piece of advice for a young classical musician
It doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be good enough.