viola d’arco and viola da gamba

Roots
I was born in the USA, in Winterset, Iowa.

Study
I studied modern oboe at the Curtis Institute in Philadelphia and at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut.
Here’s a nice story about that: the director of the institute in Philadelphia was Rudolf Serkin, and his wife Irene had grown up in Basel, the daughter of Adolf Busch. At a summer festival in Marlboro, she taught me to knit during lunch breaks and always talked about Basel and was sure I would love it. She was right. It was also there, in Marlboro, that I played a private concert for Pablo Casals at his summer home.

Professional
After teaching at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis for 37 years, I am now retired. In 2007 I became a historical oboe maker and I still practice this profession, with customers from all over the world. I continue to play viol consort music, mostly in our home, and my husband cooks dinner for those who can stay.

Why
I think it’s in my blood. My parents were both professional musicians, and my great-grandfather was a dentist and violin maker.

Elective Affinities
In 1976, I was hired to play in an oboe band in Saintes, France, under the direction of Michel Piguet. There I met Jordi Savall, and my life changed forever. In 1977 I moved to Basel.

Something else
Life is so interesting because there are countless winding roads.

Paper, Ink, and Pen 2021 February