Molly McDonald is a violinist in the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO), and member of the Salaff Quartet. She did her undergraduate degree in violin performance at the Eastman School of Music and her masters at the Cleveland Institute of Music before winning a one year position with the RPO. Throughout the interview she shares her experiences from growing up performing folk music with her parents, entering a professional orchestra while finishing up her masters, and taking auditions and moving around the violin section within the RPO.
Molly shares such thoughtful insights into taking auditions, playing in a professional orchestra, and balancing family life as a wife and a mother to two children, alongside her musical career. She also has a super fun side hustle of flower arranging.
CONNECT WITH MOLLY
Salaff String Quartet: https://www.salaffquartet.com
RPO Website: https://rpo.org/news/member/molly-werts-mcdonald/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/molly_greetings/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/molly.werts.7
Stems For Change: https://www.facebook.com/stemsforchange
MOLLY’S EPISODE RESOURCES
Fav Composer: Brahms
Fav Piece of Classical Music: Beethoven’s Op.59 Razumovsky String Quartets - the Dover Quartet Recording
Fav Movie Soundtrack: Amélie
Genre of Music: Folk Music; Nickel Creek; Danish Quartet’s Last Leaf
Currently Reading: The Tao of the Side Hustle; This is Vegan Propaganda
Musician You Admire: Yo Yo Ma and Willa Finck
Resource Recommendation: The Art of Violin
Audible Free Trial: https://amzn.to/3PDwFu3
Amazon Music Free Trial: https://amzn.to/45289IV
TIMECODES
00:00 Intro to OYC
01:08 Intro to Episode
02:19 Start of Interview
03:44 Molly’s Musical Background
09:11 Applying to Music Schools
10:53 Experience at ESM
16:28 Career Goals and Orchestral Pathway
17:32 Applying to Masters
18:58 Differences between Undergrad and Masters
20:13 Going to CIM and Living in Judson Manor
24:44 Winning RPO Job while at CIM
26:49 RPO Audition + Prep
34:08 The Transition Period from Student to Career
40:16 Adjusting to Playing in a Professional Orchestra
45:40 Having a 1 Year Position with the RPO
49:35 Taking Auditions Within the RPO
51:00 Other Parts of Career/Life
51:41 Salaff String Quartet
56:22 Flower Arranging and How It Relates to Music
1:07:44 Family Life Balance With Career
1:15:01 Rapid Fire Q&A
1:23:05 Final Piece of Advice
1:25:47 Episode Outro
1:26:39 Next Episode Teaser
1:27:13 Molly and the Salaff Quartet’s Performance
ORCHESTRATING YOUR CAREER
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaCPf5xynqMHcFuQhCWrNCQ
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/orchestratingyourcareer/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/orchestratingyourcareer
ABOUT THE HOST
Rebekah Carpio received her BMus in clarinet performance from the Eastman School of Music. She was awarded a Fulbright grant to study at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in their Orchestral Artistry program, which was in collaboration with the London Symphony Orchestra. She then went on to receive her PhD, also from the Guildhall School, researching the impact of education and community work in conservatoire training.
CONNECT WITH REBEKAH
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bitesbybekah
Website: https://www.bitesbybekah.com; Dear Reader Newsletter
MUSIC IN THIS EPISODE
Theme Music composed by Ben Roundtree: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0z6dZJL6GM
Molly and the Salaff Quartet’s Performance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjx4l7XySsc
PHOTO CREDIT
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