It’s a great time to be Hilary Hahn. There’s hardly been a stray day over the past three decades where that hasn’t been the case, but the past couple of years have been exceptionally good for the 31-year-old violinist.
Hahn’s been captivating audiences since she picked up her instrument at age 3, followed by five years of Suzuki instruction at the Peabody Conservatory, her Baltimore Symphony debut at 11, high school/college studies at the Curtis Institute of Music, her international debut at 16 and her signing with Sony Classical at 17.
Her adult accomplishments are even more impressive. Last year, Hahn won her second Grammy for her 2008 Deutsche Grammophon album Schoenberg: Violin Concerto; Sibelius: Violin Concerto. This year she released two recordings, Bach: Violin and Voice and Higdon and Tchaikovsky Violin Concertos; the Higdon Concerto was written specifically for Hahn (a commission from symphonies in Indianapolis, Baltimore and Toronto and the Curtis) by her former Curtis instructor Jennifer Higdon, who won a Pulitzer Prize for the piece.
Hilary Hahn performs with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra Friday and Saturday at Music Hall. Go here for Brian Baker's full interview, ticket information and directions.
