Sharon Mautner-Rodgers
Been with the MSO since: September 2007
Hometown: Woodland Hills, California
Education: Curtis Institute of Music, Cleveland Institute of Music (B.M.)
My day job: Adjunct cello professor at Gustavus Adolphus College, private cello teacher, freelance musician. I am also on the sub. list for Minnesota Orchestra and the extra list for MN Sinfonia chamber orchestra.
Earliest musical memory:
My dad playing lots of songs on the piano for us and my sisters and I
singing along...show tunes, folk songs, classical pieces, and some Beatles
songs.
Favorite thing about performing music: The thrill of
sharing our talents with the audience, the synergy of everyone's efforts
coming together with exciting pieces.
Other instruments I play: I used to take piano lessons
but just noodle around it for fun now.
The composition I would most like to perform: I would
love to play Beethoven's Eroica Symphony or maybe something by Rimsky-Korsakov
Best part about being an MSO musician: The members of the cello
section were so welcoming to me last season and I feel we work well together
as a team. I think everyone in the orchestra really enjoys making music
together and the concerts come together with such enthusiasm.
And for me, Maestro Freed makes playing a great joy, with his upbeat personality
and high artistic standards.
What's on my iPod or in my CD player: I listen to a lot of classical music but I also like contemporary jazz, older rock 'n roll music, show tunes, and movie music.
Other interesting facts(s): I have lived in 9 states and in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia, mostly due to playing in professional orchestras all over. I have performed on tour to New York City, Washington D.C., Kona Hawaii, South America, Paris, and Singapore.
My husband Joe is the orchestra conductor and teacher of low strings at MSU. I have 3 children: Tony is in 8th grade, Anya is in 3rd grade, and Adam is in kindergarten.
Advice for young musicians: Do a lot of slow practice mixed in with playing things at tempo and always listen carefully to your pitch, sound, and rhythm. Begin with a scale every day. Go to as many concerts as you can.