Anne Akiko Myers

by David Wurth

CSQ sat down for a quick interview with one of the most passionate and renowned violinists in the world, Anne Akiko Meyers. The Southern California born musician lives in New York City, across from Carnegie Hall, and was brought out to the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza by the New West Symphony (www.newwestsymphony.org) in late January. She was a pleasure to meet. It was refreshing to hear about her passion for life and music and how for her, they both overlap one another every day. We also had the luxury of seeing up-close her priceless Stradivari violin that she plays, made in 1730 and formerly belonging to the King of Spain, as well as her SL 500 – the name she uses for her French Bow made in the 1800’s (est. value $125,000).The Symphony reached a milestone in January attaining their 2,500th subscriber and played host for the weekend.

What drove you to pick up a violin for the first time and how old were you?
My parents were always supportive and encouraging when it came to my interest in music. Actually, my mother used to play classical music while she was pregnant with me because she heard that it could help stimulate my intellect. At 4 years old, I picked up my first violin and I just took to it. I was playing in front of an audience three years later.

You performed at the LA Philharmonic at 11 years old. How did you feel when you first walked out on stage?
Nervous. There were more people than I was used to playing for. I actually played the NY Philharmonic one year later. New York seems to have more of a culture for classical but there is nothing like the responsiveness in Europe…and Japan. It’s in their blood.

Speaking of different cultures, what is your background?
I’m half Japanese and my father is from Chicago. He met my mother when he was teaching English in Japan and is now the Dean of Webster University in St. Louis.

Where did you receive your formal education?
At 12 or 13 I moved to Indiana and studied with Josef Gingold…then I moved to New York and went to Juliard for undergrad and pre-college and studied with Dorothy DeLay. It took me six years as I combined my junior and senior years and graduated when I was 20.

You have been playing for so many years, how have you kept your passion intact for so long?
Music is so important to our creativity, our minds, and our souls and being able to keep my own projects has been essential to keeping my passion. Introducing younger people to the music and the concert hall and just getting them in there. Music is vital and it is very much a part of everyone’s life whether it be a movie…if you just turned off the visual and listened to the music you realize, “oh my god, you can almost understand the whole movie just listening to the music.” Just having the ability to communicate to any audience, anywhere in the world is really incredible. Music has no language barriers.

Have you ever played a movie score?
No, but I would like to.

Is it possible to pinpoint your favorite place in the world to play?
Probably the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. You walk down this hall and when you finally hit the stage, the audience is surrounding you, and so close.

What was the largest audience you’ve ever played in front of?
The largest audience I’ve ever performed in front of was at The Harbor in Sydney, Australia. There were over 250,000 people and I actually performed from a Ferry Boat in the Harbor. I didn’t realize the whole equator and seasonal change thing at the time and brought all summer clothes. I ended up buying a wedding dress and ripping the sleeves off (laughing). I was 16, which is when ICM began managing me and I guess you could say that was when I turned pro.

That is a young age to be a professional no matter what you do…
It was interesting because I was traveling globally already doing concerts and recordings and just being thrown out there, not really knowing what I was doing at all. Like going to Belgium for the first time…playing their National Anthem (no pressure, right?).

Traveling so much, what do you do outside of playing music?
I really enjoy spending time with family and friends when I can. My family were like my groupies growing up but it’s tougher now as they come to a few shows a year. I try to work out as much as possible and I love to eat. The only problem is that my shows usually end around 11 or so and I find myself stuck eating dinner late.
Lastly, what piece of advice would you give to this new generation of virtual musicians playing pseudo instruments through their video game systems?
”I think that how you’re exposed to music doesn’t matter, as long as you are exposed to it.”

Ms. Meyers is headed off to Poland next, but will be returning to Orange County to perform February 28th – March 2nd. She is also very active in the Amati Foundation, a non-profit organization aimed at preserving and expanding the stringed arts through innovative and cost effective programs for our youth (www.amatifoundation.com). You can find all of Anne’s tour dates and background information at www.anneakikomeyers.com.