Rebecca O. asks, Rebecca S. answers
An interview with our newest violist, Rebecca Swan
by Rebecca Oliverio
Photo credit: Joe Mazza
Tell us about the Rebecca outside of opera and viola life. What are your interests and hobbies? Any pets?
I have three teenagers (ages 19, 16, and 13) who keep me busy outside of work hours. I enjoy fitness (Orange Theory currently) and have completed 4 marathons. Other interests include baking (chocolate chip cookies are therapy for me), making sourdough bread, building things, and home improvement. I have a workshop full of tools, which is a happy place for me outside of the practice room. I also enjoy reading a variety of books, either snuggled up with my 9 lb. Cavapoo, Pepper or listening to audiobooks at double speed while on the go.
Did you start on violin or viola? Tell us about your origins with music.
I actually started on viola when I was 4 years old. Of course, it was a tiny violin with viola strings, but I consider myself a tried and true violist to the core.
You’ve been playing with us at Lyric for a while, first as a sub, and now as a member! How does it feel to be a full member?
Winning a full-time job at Lyric is a dream come true for me. Having subbed for a number of years, it’s nice coming in knowing everyone and having friends. But it does feel different as a member…I mean, now I get to sit in on orchestra meetings during the rehearsal breaks!
One thing in life you still would like to accomplish or do? We’re talking high on the bucket list.
I don’t know if this will ever happen, but I would like to run a half-marathon in every state.
A dream opera to play?
Seriously, whatever opera we’re currently doing. I love the process of listening to an opera for the first time, watching it several times to know the plot line, being fully immersed in whatever story world is going on. By the time we start rehearsing, I try to have the music internalized so I can focus on playing in sync with the section.
Verdi or Wagner?
My first experience subbing with Lyric was for The Ring Cycle rehearsals, being handed about 500 pages of music with 2 days to prepare. So I’d say at the moment Verdi induces less panic.
Mozart or Strauss?
Strauss. Playing Salome has been one of the more challenging viola parts of any opera, and I love it!
Rebecca often brings delicious cookies to work and they are usually gone by the rehearsal break or intermission. Your chocolate chip cookies are famous, so what’s the secret?? ;D
I bake them on a pizza stone so they stay super chewy!
Keeping walkways and driveways clear after snowfall can take a surprising amount of time, especially for larger properties. Having a plan before winter weather arrives can make things less stressful. A local snow removal service may be worth considering for property owners who need assistance keeping frequently used areas accessible.
Loved hearing Rebecca Swan share her perspective as the newest violist, especially in this thoughtful Rebecca-to-Rebecca interview. I’ll be checking out Amy Hess Music’s videos next. https://lora-ai.online/lora-ai-vs-stable-diffusion
It’s lovely to hear Rebecca Swan’s perspective in this interview, and the Joe Mazza photo credit adds a nice personal touch. I’ve been listening to more viola music lately and checking out https://imagineartai.pro
Loved getting to know Rebecca Swan through this interview—her arrival as the newest violist is a great addition to the ensemble. Check out https://3daistudio.pro/tools/glb-viewer
I thoroughly enjoyed this interview between the two Rebeccas; the focus on leveraging predictive data to forecast employee turnover and address emerging skill gaps before they disrupt operations was spot on. In modern workforce planning, staying ahead of these internal talent shifts requires a solid grasp of organizational strategy, which is why so many students turn to services like New Assignment Help for Business Management Assignment Help in Australia to better master these complex analytical models. It is a constant balancing act between quantitative insights and human empathy. Do you think smaller organizations can realistically adopt these predictive tools without a massive HR budget, or will they need to rely on simpler qualitative methods?