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This August, violinist Maria Ioudenitch, will be coming to Newburyport for the first time. We’ve worked together before and she is as great a human being as she is a musician.

‍David Yang, Artistic Director

DY: Where did you grow up?

‍MI: I grew up in Kansas City, MO. Both of my parents are pianists. My father won the Gold Medal in the 2001 Van Cliburn competition.

‍DY: When did you start the violin? Do you play any other instruments? If not, do you wish you did, and if so, what?

‍MI: I started when I was 3. I learned piano for many years before I went to college. I wish I played more piano! (For fun, of course). Never too late, right?
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DY: With parents who are pianists, do you feel you look at a score differently from others who just have string backgrounds?

‍ MI: Absolutely. I love to find hidden voices or connect not-so-hidden but not-string-friendly voices. What I mean is that the clear lines are impeded by string crossings etc. This is most fun to do in Bach. And if I’m playing with piano, of course there are so many hints to take away from the piano score as to how to play my own part. I think we string players should often try to play more like a piano, while pianists should try to play more like a string instrument!

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

‍MI: Literature, social justice, and animal rights.
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DY: What can you imagine doing in 20 or 30 years if you had your choice?

‍ MI: I could imagine doing a mix of solo and string quartet, tending to my animal sanctuary, and developing an established music festival centered around humanity relief projects.  

‍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 or awful?

‍MI: I won’t name the place, but I played a solo violin program in the middle of the summer with no AC and very little air flow. The fingerboard turned into a slippery road and I was hanging onto my bow for dear life.

‍DY: You were born in Russia, yes? What city, and how did you wind up coming to the USA and Kansas City and not New York or Boston, etc. (I am perhaps betraying my own regional prejudice – or ignorance).

‍MI: I was born in Balashov, Russia. Once my father took home the Gold at the Van Cliburn competition, that gave us the opportunity to move to the US. Actually, because of his amazing hosts at the competition who have since been like our family, we moved after his first attempt in the competition in 1997 (which is when he burned his hand and had to withdraw).

We lived in Cleveland for a year and ran out of there. Settled in Kansas City because of an opportunity for my dad, and never looked back!

‍DY: What is your favorite comfort food?

‍MI: Hot, fresh bread with cultured butter.

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

‍MI: Definitely! I have a nice mix, including Billy Joel, Lianne La Havas, Stevie Wonder, Oscar Peterson, and loads of American and Soviet 20s-30s-40s artists and groups.

‍DY: What would your superpower be?

‍MI: I’d love to heal people and animals with my touch.

‍DY: What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?

‍ MI: Overthinking.

‍DY: What is the trait you most deplore in others?

MI: Overthinking!

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