Tara Fensom
On Stage
Violinist Tara Fensom has performed throughout the world as a soloist, chamber musician and orchestral musician. Fensom has given recitals in England as well as New York City and Rochester, NY. Fensom has toured South America with the New World Symphony, and has performed with that orchestra in Israel and Monaco. Fensom has also toured Asia several times as a substitute with the Philadelphia Orchestra, performing in China, Japan and South Korea. Fensom has performed at music festivals including Aspen, Chautauqua and Sarasota, and has performed as soloist with the Pittsburgh Symphony, Virginia Symphony and Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. Fensom graduated from The Juilliard School with both Bachelor and Master of Music Degrees, studying with Dorothy DeLay, Hyo Kang and Stephen Clapp.
Off Stage
Hometown: Rochester, NY
Why did you select your instrument?
I began at age 3 with the Suzuki Method, so it kind of chose me!
Does your instrument have a special story?
My violin was bought for me by my grandmother, when I was in college.
Johann Sebastian Bach, and I would ask him what his inspiration was to write so much incredible music.
What’s your funniest/most compelling on-stage moment?
Probably when I was giving a recital at around age 10 or 11 years old, and a dog walked into the auditorium and onto the stage! I just kept playing.
Other than your instrument, what would we find in your instrument case?
A small plastic comb for last minute touch-ups.
What do you love most about being a professional musician?
Besides being able to make a living playing wonderful music all the time, I love playing in a church, or at Blumenthal, and having an audience member tell me they were so touched by the music, because we sometimes take what we do for granted and lose sight of how much music really speaks to people.
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