Meet the Musicians: Julia Paine, Second Bassoon
How did you get started playing your instrument?
My middle school told us we could try any instrument we wanted and then rank the top three. My rankings were bassoon, percussion, and double bass. I loved the bassoon because it was taller than me.
Which musician inspires you the most?
Kate Liu! Anytime I am burned out, I listen to her play Chopin’s Andante Spianato and Grande Polonaise Brillante. Everything else melts away.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received?
Stay curious! My professor really emphasized being curious and fascinated by challenges. When I make a mistake while practicing, instead of being frustrated, it’s better to be fascinated by why that mistake is happening. You will learn more efficiently and effectively.
If you weren’t a musician, what career would you pursue?
Marine chemistry.
What’s the most unusual place you’ve played your instrument?
On a research vessel in the Drake Passage.
Most memorable performance since joining the SLSO?
Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 3 in 2022. I wasn’t a member yet, but it was about a month before the audition and the SLSO needed a last-minute substitute for its Midwest tour. I remember feeling really nervous, but as soon as I started to play with the section, I felt magic, serenity, and home all at once. I knew immediately I needed this specific place to be my job and home for the rest of my life.
Learn more about Julia here.
Compiled by Iain Shaw.
