An Informal Chat with violinist, Linda Woodrich:  I am a violin player originally from Australia.  I have lived in the United States for 21 years and am married to James Woodrich, also a musician. Together we have 3 children: Savannah, Ian and Sebastian.

I received my Bachelor of Music Education degree from Florida Southern College in Lakeland and have been teaching orchestra in Brevard County Public Schools since 2001. As well as teaching a few private students, I am currently the string consultant in the Port St John feeder chain and the conductor of the String Ensemble of the Brevard Symphony Youth Orchestra.

I love playing in an orchestra, and I love teaching music, especially to young musicians. To me there is nothing to compare with the excitement and joy of teaching young musicians to excel, and leading them to experience the magic that comes from performing together. I think a positive foundation in playing music is an important cornerstone to developing a student’s musicianship for his or her entire life, whether as a professional player, a hobbyist, or simply a lifelong lover of music.

What is your favorite aspect about being a musician?  My favorite aspect of being a musician is the camaraderie that comes from performing with other musicians – when things suddenly gel and you go from simply playing notes to making music together. It is so much fun, and there’s nothing else like it.

Which composers most inspire you?  Some of my favorite composers are Beethoven, Brahms, Philip Glass, Michael Kamen and Vaughan Williams.

What is your favorite recording?  One of my favorite recordings, while not strictly classical, is the Symphony & Metallica album, recorded live with Metallica and the San Francisco Symphony, orchestrated and directed by Michael Kamen. It’s a great melding of the two genres.