EDITOR'S NOTE: Curtain Call is a new series featuring Chattanooga-area musicians. To suggest a person for a future report, contact Barry Courter at bcourter@times freepress.com.
While guest violinist Midori will draw much of the attention at tonight's Chattanooga Symphony & Opera performance, regular attendees will pay attention to Lisa Dempsey as well.
A member of the orchestra since 1998, Dempsey sits in either the first or second chair just to the left of Maestro Robert Bernhardt. Her striking blond hair also makes her easy to spot.
In addition to being the associate concertmaster, she is co-librarian, a role that requires a lot of organization and attention to detail.
"It takes a certain type of person," she said. "It can get very tedious."
Lisa DempseyAge: 38Hometown: North Kingstown, Rhode IslandEducation: The Hartt School of Music, bachelor of music in violin performance; Boston University, master's in violin performance.Career: Joined the Chattanooga Symphony & Opera in 1998 and is currently the associate concertmaster and co-librarian. Previously she was a member of the New World Symphony (Miami). She has performed with the Rhode Island Philharmonic, the Huntsville Symphony, the Nashville Chamber Orchestra and the Vermont Symphony.FavoritesFavorite movie: "Last Tango in Paris."Favorite book: "Lolita."Hobbies: Hiking, yoga, hang-gliding, sky-diving. "One thing I don't do in my spare time is listen to music."
Q: Why did you become a violinist?
A: I started playing because my parents were violinists. They wanted me to learn music and have a music background, though they did not want me to go into music [as a vocation].
They tried pushing, and I rebelled. I tried violin and didn't like it. I tried piano, and I couldn't do it. This is embarrassing and dates me, but [eventually] they promised to put a phone in my bedroom. I was 15. I tried it, and I loved the violin.
Q: Tell us about your violin. Does it have a history?
A: It was given to me by my grandfather. It is an 1875 Pasquale Ventapane from Naples, Italy. My family is Russian and it came over with everything else. My grandfather was an accomplished violinist, though he became a businessman.
When I was 17, he was sick with cancer. He played a little bit of Beethoven's Violin Concerto and then he literally passed it to me. I wish I had been older and understood it all better, but it was still very touching.
When I travel to other countries and to gigs, I feel like he is with me.
Q: Regular CSO patrons see you or the concertmaster shake hands with the conductor upon entering the stage. What is that about?
A: I think it is just a formality and there is a long tradition in doing that.
Q: What is the role of the concertmaster?
A: The concertmaster takes the lead in when we stand and when we sit. We also decide the direction of the bows. They all go in the same direction and that is decided ahead of time and marked on the sheet music.
It may be imperceptible to an audience, but there may be a time when the orchestra is falling apart - maybe the strings are ahead of the winds - and it is up to the concertmaster or another principal to bring it back.
Q: Do you have a favorite type of music or show to perform?
A: I like having diversity. Every audience is different and you have to diversity. I do like having guest performers. I like when we have fake Elvis or fake Beatles.
Q: What does your license plate say?
A: Oh, you saw that. 'Sly Fox.' Lisa means fox in Russian. It's a childhood nickname and I got it for my family and didn't even think about how narcissistic it might appear.