My name is Vivian Van de Sype Cucu and I am a senior at the
University School of Milwaukee. My family and I, we're really
close. We really like sailing together. I've been sailing for
as long as I can remember. With sailing, you have to adapt to
the wind and who you're with and, with music, I kind of have
to adapt with the people I'm playing with or the hall that
I'm playing in. I think the viola is a pretty interesting
instrument. It has such a beautiful tone, almost like a
singing voice. I started playing when I was four years
old. I really enjoy playing in ensembles. The viola adds a
really unique texture and I love to provide that. I'm a
part of the Music Institute of Chicago Academy and my quartet
is definitely my favorite part. My non-profit organization,
Musicians for Hope, is a collaboration between me and a
few peers from the Academy. We try to raise money to bring
instruments and better-funded music programs to public
schools.
"That's better." I've been studying with Davis King for
three years now. He's helped me progress exponentially. He's
really enjoyable to work with and I love him. "There's no
change of bow speed." "Really?" He really makes me have to perfect
it before we can move on. That's really helpful. "Now
you're getting sharp." I will be playing the first movement of
the Walton Viola Concerto. The beginning's really soft but it
gets really intense as it goes on. I know Walton was in love
with someone but it was sort of an unrequited love. I try to
think of that when I play but I can't relate. The ending is so
wonderful. It just slowly fades away and it sort of dies at the
end.
Playing with the Madison Symphony Orchestra is
definitely a big deal. I'm just going to really try to savor
the moment and appreciate the music.