Okay, I'm recording.
So we'll just get this started
really easy.
What did you have for breakfast this
morning?
Oh, I had an Apple turnover.
Hopefully it's made, but
it was very good.
So generally we start the
profiles with you
stating your name,
your age or year in school.
You can say, you know, my
name is Cordelia and
you use your whole name.
I'm 17 or I'm a senior
at Wisconsin Virtual
Academy,
so just something like that.
My name is
Cordelia Fredrickson, I'm 17
and a senior at the
Wisconsin Virtual Academy.
Wonderful,
and how long have you been playing
the violin?
I've been playing violin for
14 years.
Is that the instrument that you
first started with?
Yes, it is.
Do you play any other instruments?
I used to play piano
and a little bit of viola
for chamber music.
You're hearing that?
Yeah.
Is there any way to shut up?
Yeah. All right. That sounds
terrible.
That's insane.
Let me get you both a little bit in
half.
Oh, there you go. Yep.
That's perfect, thank you.
Yeah, thanks for that. Yeah, we just
heard that kick in, but.
Yep, all good.
Okay,
so how long did you say
you've been playing the violin?
Fourteen years.
And what made you decide
to stick with violin instead of
piano or viola?
That's a good question.
It was the violin.
Well, the violin was what I started
with. So it was kind of
automatically my favorite.
But I think how
it sounds is still
my favorite out of all three.
What do you like most about how
it sounds?
Um, I like how much
it resonates and how
different but similar the
strings sound and how
difference violins can make such
different tones in
general.
Have you always had the same violin,
the same instrument, or have
you changed over the years?
So as I grew,
because I started when I was
really little,
as we grow we change sizes
for the instrument.
So I've used different
violins throughout the years as
I've needed bigger violins.
How long have you had the one that
you're playing on right now?
I would say maybe
four or five years I
got my violin when I was going
into eighth grade.
What prompted you to
take up the violin in the first
place?
Um...
I think my parents started me
on the violin, and
when I started it, I really enjoyed
playing it.
And how old were you
when they started you with lessons?
I'm three and a half years old.
Obviously you enjoyed playing
the violin. Yes.
Yes, I did.
So you never had a problem with
practicing or
finding time?
I remember it as enjoying
working on violin,
but I'm sure there were a lot
of struggles just with how
young children are when
they have to do something.
Do your parents play instruments
as well?
Um, they both play piano.
Have you ever played duets with your
parents?
When I was first doing violin,
my mom would play the piano part
for all the music that I
was working on, so that was really
fun.
Has your mom
or your dad ever accompanied you
for competitions?
Not for competitions, but
for the Suzuki Strings concerts,
my mom would play with me.
And do you also have any
siblings, any brothers or sisters?
Yes, I have one little sister
who is six years old and
her name is Charlotte.
Um, does she
play any instruments?
Yes, she started learning piano
and she really enjoys
that as well.
Does she like to play with you?
She likes to practice at the same
time that I am practicing.
In the same room.
Usually in a different room, but I'm
sure if she could she would love to
play it in the same room at the
same time
What do you
get out of playing music and what do
you enjoy about
playing the violin?
I enjoy that it
brings joy to
other people.
It's a really nice way to
be involved with your community
and also share what you enjoy
with others,
which is part of what I like most
about violin.
Do you enjoy, because
you've soloed with a number
of different orchestras, do
you enjoy being out
in front and being the soloist,
or do you also
enjoy performing as part
of a group?
I enjoy both.
I think they both bring
different advantages and
I think they're both really great
ways of working with other people.
What groups have you performed
with?
Um, I've played with the
Midwest.
Midwest Young Artists
Orchestras, Numerous
Times, and then the
Portland Youth Philharmonic
in Portland,
Oregon this past year.
So were you, like, a visiting
soloist with Portland?
Yes.
Yes, we were on a tour
that combined the Midwest
Young Artist Symphony Orchestra with
the Portland Youth Philharmonic
and then we also visited Seattle
and Vancouver, so we
were kind of doing a side-by-side
concert with all three of them.
How long?
So the tour was about a week long.
What do you find is
the hardest part of playing the
violin, like intonation
or tone or
mechanics or technical?
I think bringing out the musicality
and really making it so that
the audience feels what you
are trying to show everyone
is one of the most challenging
but most enjoyable parts
of playing violin.
Enjoyable in what way.
I think when you accomplish
that it is
so special and it's
such a great feeling when you can
portray what you want
to the audience.
Who is your current
instructor for violin?
My violin teacher is
Professor Janet Sung at
DePaul University.
And how long have you been studying
with her?
I've been studying with her for
about six years.
I started with her in
sixth grade.
And what kinds of things
does she help you with?
Um, a lot of musicality,
making it so that...
You have a story that you
are sharing with the audience for
each piece of music.
What is it that you like most about
her as an instructor?
Everything.
I enjoy how
she teaches, but also...
Um...
Do you think of her as a friend,
in addition to a teacher?
Not necessarily a friend, she
is a person I admire a
lot.
I really enjoy listening to
her performances as well.
I think she is an amazing performer
and also a teacher, which
I think is
super valuable.
How did you hear about her, how did
you find out?
I met her at a
master class that my
youth orchestra program Midwestern
Artists was hosting.
So I got to play for her in
the master class and then
I went to a summer camp that
she was teaching at in Ohio.
And so you
take a trip down to Chicago
every week.
Yes.
Do you drive or do your parents
generally drive?
My dad drives.
I would think it's a little scary
to be driving on the highway
for such a long time.
Um. Ahem.
What are your
favorite styles of music?
I mean obviously you like classical
music but are there any other
types of music that you like
listening to or performing?
Um, I would
say my favorite style of
music to listen to is classical
music.
Um, there's a lot of different types
of classical music,
like orchestral works and
solo music.
And that is generally what I enjoy
listening to.
Now, the piece that you're going
to be performing, can you tell us
what it is and the
composer's name and why
you're choosing to play that
one?
I will be performing the
Prokofiev Violin
Controda No. 1, the first
movement.
I chose this
piece of music because
I really enjoyed listening to it
and I think each
part of the movement has
such a different character and
I really wanted to be able to bring
together the sections or
the different characters of the
section in a way that
makes a story.
Is the first movement your favorite
movement of that piece?
It is.
How long have you been working
on that?
Oh, um, that's
a good question.
Um, I believe I started it
sometime in July, so
a few months.
And what kinds of things
does Professor Sung
help you with for
that music?
Um,
a lot of stylistic things
and making sure that
I'm able to make
the character sound as much
as that character as I want
it to.
And making sure the character really
comes across to the audience.
What made you choose
the Prokofiev?
I mean, there are all these other
well-known
works, violin,
Sibelius, Mendelssohn,
Brahms.
What made choose the prokofia?
Um it's a bit more of
a modern piece which is
something that I enjoy performing
or working on and learning
I also think it just sounds so cool.
In what way?
Well, the beginning
is a very dreamy
character, almost like it's up in
the clouds, and then when you
keep moving forward, it becomes
a bit more like an
evil little elf that's
maybe doing something that it
shouldn't be doing, and it
keeps moving on and there's
so many different characters that
each section has, and the ending
is again like it is the clouds.
I enjoy tying all of that together
to make a story.
What do you find different about
the 20th century pieces
from, say, more classical?
Um...
I think it has very different
harmonies.
You can also hear kind of
the issues in the world that were
going on in the
world during that time
through the music.
So I think its interesting trying
to portray some of that as well.
Who or what do you feel has been
the biggest influence on you
as a musician?
I would say my teacher,
Professor Sang, has been one of
the biggest influences on me.
Are there any violin
performers that you particularly
like listening to?
I enjoy listening
to
Augustin
Hadlich, James
Ennis,
Isaac Perlman,
a lot of different people.
Um.
Who would you say is your favorite
composer and
why?
Oh, um,
it's so hard to pick,
um...
If you've got a bunch of them, go
ahead and list your favorites.
I would say whoever's
work that I am working on at that
moment tends to be my favorite.
Just because when I
work on that piece I learn so much
about each composer so
then it makes me
I guess, feel a connection to
their music.
Where did you first hear
the Prokofiev piece
that you're gonna be playing, or
what made you kind of
decide to go for that one?
Have you been wanting to
perform that for a while?
I think I've been
wanting to perform
My teacher introduced me
to the idea of
playing the Prokofiev, but
when I first listened to it with
the intention of possibly studying
it, I kind of felt
connected to it immediately
more than I would, well,
I tend to feel when I listen to
a piece of music.
Very good point
Mm-hmm
What is
Let's talk about some other
interests. What other interests do
you have besides
music?
I enjoy baking,
reading, spending time with my
family, especially my little sister.
I also enjoy studying,
which might not be very common,
but...
Really enjoy school outside
of.
What made you choose Wisconsin
Virtual Academy, or what
do you like most about that?
I enjoy that it gives me
more of a flexible schedule so
I'm really able to practice
violin when I
want to and as much as
I can and then I
can do my schoolwork at a time
where it's a little bit more
convenient for me especially with
all the traveling to Chicago and
other places that we do for music.
How long have you been attending?
Is it all four years of high school
that you did through Virtual
Academy?
Yes, I started
in my freshman year of high school.
Was that about the same time?
Well, that was in, we were in COVID
by then, right?
Um,
I would say it was after
COVID.
I went back to
regular school
for eighth grade, and then I
actually really enjoyed how school
was during COVID.
So I kind of wanted to go back to
that for high school.
Do you have, in
addition to baking, do you have any
other hobbies that you enjoy
or any sports that you
take part in?
Unfortunately sports are not
really my thing, but I enjoy
a lot of different types of arts
like coloring,
drawing.
I enjoy doing
crafts with my sister,
but also reading is
one of my hobbies.
What types of
books do you read?
I really enjoy reading books about
violin and how to practice
violin.
How do you like to spend your free
time?
Um...
Usually my free time is spent
with my family,
so sometimes we'll
all bake together or
we'll go out to cafes
or other places and
spend time together, which
is...
Do you go on vacations
typically as a family?
Um...
We go to Door County often.
It's a really beautiful place, so
we usually go for a long weekend,
usually during Thanksgiving
break.
And then you get to Chicago every
week, right? Yes.
What are your plans for
after high school?
Because you're a senior now.
Yes. What are you planning to
do next year and
down the road?
I'm planning to go to college,
hopefully a music conservatory
for violin performance,
or I'm also
interested in majoring in psychology
or sociology.
Do you have any specific colleges
in mind?
Um,
Juilliard School of Music.
How many other
competitions have you entered?
Oh, a lot.
Too many to count.
Always on violin or
any on piano.
I'm always on violin for me,
but I've been part of a
few chamber groups that have also
competed.
Were those chamber groups
with the Midwest Youth
Symphony?
They were with the Midwest Young
Artists.
What made you decide to enter the
bowls competition?
I've competed every year since
I was young.
I used to compete in the junior
division as well.
So it's kind of a tradition
to compete.
So how did you feel this
year when you were
selected as one of the finalists?
I think it was very exciting to
have this opportunity to play
with Madison Symphony Orchestra.
So you played with the orchestra
then when you were in the
youth.
No, I did not, not
with Madison Symphony.
Oh, okay.
So this will be your first time
performing with the Madison
Symphony? Yes.
What are you looking forward to with
that?
I think it will be very exciting
to work with
a different orchestra and
a new conductor and see how
I can collaborate with
everyone to make something
beautiful.
What what does it feel like or
what are you thinking about when you
set foot on that stage when you step
up onto the stage to perform
with an orchestra?
Um, I think I mainly
think about how I can
enjoy this experience and
how I can make everyone else enjoy
it as well.
Are you ever nervous
when you step up on stage?
A little bit, but I think it's very
exciting and that kind of overpowers
the nervousness.
But you're used to performing in
front of crowds.
Um...
I know you also volunteer
at the Madison Children's
Museum.
How long have you done that and how
often do you work there?
I've started volunteering
this past school
year.
I try to go every
week when I can, but it
ends up being every other week or
every few weeks sometimes.
Why did you
pick the Madison Children's Museum?
I wanted to give back
to the place that
was my favorite place
to play out when I was younger.
So we actually started going there
when it first opened at the new
location.
So I've gone there for
many years in a way.
Can you just say,
I started going to the Madison
Children's Museum when
it first opened or something?
Okay.
Okay, yeah.
I started going to the Madison
Children's Museum when
they first opened at the
new location.
And what was it that
you liked so much about going there?
I really liked the art studio.
I got to make something really
cool every time that I went
there, but I also enjoyed
the little water areas that
there were.
Is that what you enjoy doing then,
is helping other kids
create things?
Yes, that is my favorite place to
be. I really enjoy seeing
the different creative things that
the little kids are making and
I love helping them
make what they are trying
to envision.
You mentioned that you really like
to bake, what
kinds of things do you like baking?
Mainly cookies.
Cookies are my favorite,
but occasionally cakes as
well.
How long have you liked baking?
Um I really enjoyed
it when I was younger as well.
I would help my mom make
cakes and cookies so
that is one of my favorite memories.
Do you ever bake by yourself or
is it usually with your mom?
Sometimes I will bake by
myself, but
I prefer doing it with other
people like my mother and my
sister.
Sort of a family.
Yes, it makes it a lot more fun.
What's the best thing that you've
ever made?
Maybe cookies.
What kind of cookies?
I like the classic sugar
cookies.
I just think there's something so
nice about a classic recipe.
Have you ever made chocolate chip?
I'm sure that I have.
My favorite is just the sugar
cookies.
Have you ever completely blown it
and not gotten it right and
something bad comes up?
Well, there was a time where
we didn't have any eggs and
I was trying to make, I think it
was brownies.
And I thought, well, what could go
wrong? So I made it without the eggs
and it did not
become very brownie-like.
I just know because my daughter
and I tried baking some cookies
one time and we didn't
get the portions right and
they were mostly sugar,
they just dissolved
in your mouth.
That's right.
There was very little flour.
Yeah, I also tried to
make cinnamon rolls once and
the yeast failed
a little bit so it did
not rise.
Sometimes those
Those are the most fun times.
Yeah,
yeah, sometimes.
Memorable.
Memorable, yes.
So I think we're just about done
here.
I wanted to ask one more time
just what,
because music is obviously very
special to you.
And what is it
that makes music
something that you'd love to make a
career out of?
I really enjoyed the collaborative
aspect that music has and
also I think it's
such a nice feeling to be able to
play something beautiful that
the audience, the people who are
listening to the music will also
enjoy.
I think that was wonderful.
Glenn? Oh, yeah, I was going to say,
if you have any more questions, go
for it. I was just going to remind
room tone.
Okay, yeah. If we can just sit here
and not say anything for about 30
seconds,
we'll get the sound of the room so
we can put that into places where
we need a space.
I do have one more.
What would be your dream career?
I mean looking forward, looking
ahead like ten years from now,
where would you really like to be?
I would like to be doing something
with violin.
I think each type
of musician has its own
enjoyable aspects, so
I haven't really decided on
which one that
I want to do most,
but I think I
would look forward to any
of them.
Have you attended
any of the
BOLD's competition concerts
in the past?
Yes, I have.
It's been a few years
since COVID, but
I have gone
to a few of
them.
With your family?
Yes.
So, this is going to be
a change of pace
then? Yes.
Being up on stage and seeing them in
the audience.
Does that bother you at all seeing
your parents and your
sister in the
No,
maybe a little a little
bit more nerve-racking
Have you performed in Overture Hall
before?
Um...
I don't think so.
I think this will be my first time.
Where did the
Midwest Youth
Orchestra, where did they
typically perform?
We typically played
at the Pixtager
Hall at
Northwestern University in
Evanston.
Have you performed with the
Milwaukee Symphony?
I'm... Not as a soloist,
but- or-
I've done their side-by-side
program, which
is where the
high schoolers will sit in as
part of the orchestra.
Yeah, I think I think we're
set. You did fantastic.
Thank you.
Great. Yeah, great.
Wonderful.
Looks great.
Okay, so I'm gonna just cut.