PHOTOGRAPHED BY GEORDY PEARSON.Why my image and music go hand-in-hand
"My ensemble, the Nouveau Classical Project, works with designers to create looks that are inspired by the music we're performing. It's not just about sitting on a stage. Overall, we want our message to be that classical music isn't just about wearing all black and looking bored all the time. We try to express personality through what we wear. We love black obviously, but we're not trying to look like we're going to a funeral."
Why it’s important to break the rules
"Once, in undergrad, a professor gave me grief over what I wore performing at a concert. I wasn't wearing all black, but it wasn't anything risqué. Afterward, I was taken aside and told that if I wanted to be taken seriously, I needed to think about what I wear. It wasn't enough that I practiced more than anyone in the department and I'm damn serious about what I do. I wear what I feel comfortable in and own it. For women in the music industry, it's often about how you look. But, I think people are starting to see there's more to women than what they can do with their bodies. It's starting to balance out a little bit."
The challenge I face every day
"Pursuing a life of music is extremely daring, especially classical music, where audiences are decreasing. But, I do believe in what I'm doing, and I know people can really get something out of classical music. We're showing who we are through our music, and hopefully in doing so we're getting other people excited about it."
