By Andrew Psarris
Recent alumnus, good friend of mine, and star of last year’s famous Eastman Ultimate Frisbee team, Jeremy Potts (MM ’15) has accomplished something few could ever hope to accomplish. He is in possession of a world-renowned violin loaned to him for three years after winning a nationally acclaimed competition. I had the opportunity to interview Jeremy about his experience preparing for this competition, and about the results.
What is this competition?
It’s the Canada Council for the Arts Musical Instrument Bank Competition. It’s open to promising young Canadian Musicians on the verge of/in the midst of a solo or chamber music career. It happens every three years and the competition is very intense, with musicians from their early twenties to late thirties.
Can you give me an overview of the whole process of this competition?
The process is initially a preliminary round involving sending some recordings, a resume, a description of my current instrument, personal and career statements, and how the use of a fine instrument would contribute to my specific career goals. In July I received a letter in the mail saying that I was selected as a finalist to compete in a live interview and audition for the instruments in Toronto scheduled from September 20-25. I was absolutely thrilled!
What did you play? Who were the judges?
For my audition, I had to play one piece from the Baroque/Classical era and another contrasting piece of my choice, totaling no more than 20 minutes of playing time. I opted for a purely solo program (piano accompaniment was provided if needed). I played the Adagio from Bach’s Sonata No. 1 in G Minor, followed by Ysaye’s virtuosic Solo Sonata No. 3 in D Minor, “Ballade”. After my audition, I was seated in front of a jury who questioned me about my career aspirations, experiences, involvement and long term goals. It was a very rigorous and thorough interview. The panel was composed of esteemed artists on the Canadian musical scene, including Clemens Merkl of Quatuor Bozzini and world-renowned violin soloist Lara St. John. I was quite pleased with both my playing and interview but had to wait until Thursday before they would release the competition results. On Thursday afternoon, I got the call saying that I was successful in the competition and that I would be picking my new instrument the next morning! I was ecstatic.
We met at the George Heinl and Co. Violin Shop in downtown Toronto, where we were greeted and congratulated. For the most part, I had no idea who else was taking part in the competition, so I was very pleased to see several old friends enter the building after me! Some of the winners were already successful soloists and competition winners whom I recognized from social media; others were members of successful quartets, were heavily involved in the Canadian new music scene, or had recently finished recording a classical CD with a prominent record label. I felt incredibly honored and inspired to be included among these extraordinary musicians.
We spent most of the day eating and conversing with each other in the shop while we waited for our turn to select the instruments. We only had 20 minutes to choose our instrument, but earlier in the week we were given an hour by ourselves in the shop to play each one. The more high-profile instruments, such as the Stradivaris and Guarneris, were the first to go. However, I was very pleased to see that one of the instruments that I particularly enjoyed was still available when my turn came around. After walking out with my new friend, I was sent across to the street to a photography studio to have my picture taken for the website and for media purposes. Next, we all had a lesson with the luthiers on how to maintain our instruments, as well as some celebratory wine and group photos afterwards.
The shop owner and his team of luthiers were very generous and accommodating. They would take the time to adjust and set up your instrument to your liking, which for me included the addition of a new shoulder rest, chinrest, strings, rosin, humidifier and brand new violin case. Finally, it was time to say goodbye to everyone and head home with the violin. It was an exhilarating, stressful, and exhausting experience, but one I’ll never forget. I’m beyond excited to get the chance to play this incredible instrument for the next three years.
What was your preparation before this competition?
The preparation for this was intense. I would practice upwards of 4 to 5 hours daily, making sure my pieces were as prepared as possible. I also had to outline and practice my interview so there were no surprises once I had to speak with the jury members!
How did Eastman, your teacher, and your friends and family help you prepare for something of this magnitude?
Absolutely none of this would have been possible without my incredibly supportive family, friends, and teachers. The thing I love most about Eastman is its sense of community. I’m incredibly thankful for all my friends at Eastman who listened to me play and provided me with wonderful feedback and inspiration. I can’t thank my family back home enough; they were always there to provide support and encouragement when I needed it most, doing whatever they could to help me in my musical career. Finally, I’m incredibly grateful to my amazing teacher at Eastman, Professor Federico Agostini. His wisdom and approach to music never ceases to amaze me and he continually challenges me to be the best musician I can possibly be.
Why is this violin so famous?
The violin I have was made by Enrico Rocca in 1902. He was one of the foremost violinmakers in Genoa, Italy at the beginning of the 20th century. He followed in the footsteps of his father, Giuseppe Rocca, who was another highly esteemed Luthier in Turin in the mid to late 1800’s. This particular violin was made at the zenith of Rocca’s career, and it really shows in both appearance and sound quality. It’s in nearly perfect condition and has a very pure, even and full-bodied sound.
Who played it in the past?
I have an interesting connection to a past player of this instrument. It was previously loaned to Kerry DuWors, an Eastman DMA alumna who completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Victoria, studying with the same teacher I did.
What is next for you?
Right now, I’m using Rochester as a home base and taking as many auditions and gig opportunities as I can. I plan to give a recital tour of the Canadian West Coast some time in the next year, and continue to play in a chamber duo collaboration with guitarist Katrina Leshan (MM ’15).
How will this violin and this competition make you a better player?
In the short time I’ve had with the instrument, I can already hear and feel the immense positive differences from my old instrument. There are so many more colors I can experiment with, and the amount of effort needed to create a clear, projecting tone is almost nonexistent. This instrument’s unique character will really shine in chamber and solo settings. It inspires me to continually experiment with new sounds and approaches. The competition itself was a huge learning curve for me. The extremely high level of technical and artistic expectations from the jury made me prepare more thoroughly than I’ve ever had to before, and made me re-evaluate my habits and musical approach.
Congratulations to Jeremy for this incredible accomplishment!