News

This August, violinist Isabelle Ai Durrenberger will be attending NCMF for the first time. I sat down with her (remotely) and fired off some questions to get to know her a bit better.

‍David Yang, Artistic Director

DY: Where did you grow up?

IAD: I was born in Taipei, my family moved to Springfield, OH when I was a baby and then when I was 9 we moved to Columbus, OH.  I'm a midwesterner at heart.  

‍DY: When did you start the violin?    

IAD: I started violin (late!) at age 7.  I had been playing piano since age 4, and my parents thought a string instrument might be a more social endeavor!  I also play viola in chamber music settings.  I sometimes wish I played the trumpet, it has such a glorious sound.

‍

DY: Your parents are both pianists. Do you feel that has given you a different insight into music as opposed to someone with a string background?

IAD: I don't think I completely realized how this affected me until more recently. As string players, when we play sonatas with piano, we have to match the articulations of the piano.  I think this was much easier for me than some students I work with now who have not had as much piano experience. I also think that piano voicing is something I'm a little more attuned to,and I often want far more left hand presence than the right hand.
‍

‍

DY: You are mixed-race Caucasian and Asian, like me. Do you think of yourself as Asian or white or how do you process your own ethnic background? I know for me, I don’t think of myself as either but really am a “mutt” and my identity is “mixed race,” not white or Asian.

IAD: Oh gosh, I could talk forever about this!  I definitely also consider myself mixed, or "halfie" - my mother is half Taiwanese and half-Japanese so I am a quarter of both.  My dad is American, with European/French-Canadian roots.  Growing up in Ohio, especially in the smaller town of Springfield, I was distinctly aware of my other-ness and knew my family didn't fit the norm.  When I was in fifth grade and we moved to a suburb of Columbus, I met a handful of other Asian-American kids in my grade and I knew I found "my people."  

However, when visiting Asia or going to weekend Chinese language school in middle school, I also felt very othered and like I didn't fit in. The concept of what degree you look "white-passing" or how "Asian" you look is a huge topic of discussion. I definitely felt annoyed when people said I didn't look Asian, because internally I knew it was such a huge part of my cultural identity.  I feel most excited when I meet other halfies or "mixed race" people because we all can share in the experience of being so culturally diverse and finding that "third culture" home.
‍

DY: How long have you been first violinist of Aeolus String Quartet. How did that come about?  

IAD: I joined the Aeolus Quartet in January of 2025.  After a 6 month audition process which included a reading, and several concerts on the road together, the other ladies of Aeolus invited me to join the group.  I always had a huge love of string quartet, but the group dynamic is sometime referred to "marriage without rings" because of the level of commitment and compatibility necessary - I knew I only wanted to join a group if I could sense the people aspect was the right fit, and I feel so lucky to be in Aeolus with three wonderful women. I feel like I gained three amazing big sisters.

‍DY: If not music what do you think you would do? What are some of your other interests?

IAD: Oh goodness... in a dream world, I'd want to run a blueberry farm or fruit orchard.  In reality, I wanted to double science in political science and perhaps go to law school.

‍

DY: You’ve played all over the world. Is there any one place you have played that comes to mind as particularly unusual or beautiful?

IAD: I met the kindest people in the most beautiful settings in Sendai, Japan.
‍

‍

DY: You studied with Mr. Weilerstein. Are you still in touch? How has his teaching and musicality affected who you are as a musician and/or person?  

IAD: Don Weilerstein is a treasure!  Yes, we are still in touch - he actually just played Dvorak E flat String Quintet with Aeolus this April which was incredibly meaningful and special.  Don is one of those teachers who truly leads from example, both as a human and musician.  He leads with insatiable curiosity, deep mindfulness, and a beautiful sensitivity towards others.  And he takes the right things seriously while still finding many moments to embrace laughter. I feel so lucky to have him as a mentor and role model.
‍

DY: What is your comfort food?

IAD: Japanese cold soba.

‍DY: Do you listen to non-classical music at all? If so, what’s lined up in your queue?

IAD: Oh yes!  I like R&B and Kpop, artists like Raye, Doja Cat, Beyonce, and ILLIT. Also, I’m always a sucker for the crooners of the 50s-60s...Sinatra, Ella, Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday, Doris Day.

‍

DY: Favorite movie?

‍IAD: 500 Days of Summer.  Such a human love story.