What is your name?
Elyse Jacobson

Where are you from?
Seattle, Washington, USA

Where do you live now?
Vancouver, BC

What instrument do you play? 
Violin

How long have you played your instrument?
28 years

What made you pick that instrument?
I was watching Sesame Street at age four, and Itzhak Perlman was a guest on the show. I have no memory of this, but apparently I was captivated and told my mom I wanted to do what he was doing. The following year, my parents bought me a 1/8-size violin and put me in violin lessons.

Where did you study?
I completed my Bachelor of Music degree in Violin Performance at the University of British Columbia, studying under Jasper Wood.

Please list any awards, accomplishments, etc.
-Two-time Semifinalist in the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition -Performed on an album that went Platinum in Canada (Marianas Trench "Masterpiece Theatre") -Performed on an album nominated for a Western Canadian Music Award (Tambura Rasa "Live")

If you could have dinner with any composer (living or dead) who would it be and why?
If I had to choose one, I think I'd pick Clara Schumann. She'd have some interesting stories about her relationships with Robert Schumann and Johannes Brahms, about her travels as a performing pianist, and about trying to publish her compositions as a woman in the 19th century.

What is your favourite genre of music, other than classical music?
Jazz, jazz metal, jazz fusion, world music, progressive rock, hip hop...lots!

What is your favourite band?
Oh gosh, impossible to pick one. I love Bjork, Janelle Monae, My Brightest Diamond, Panzerballett, Billie Holiday, and hundreds more.

Other than the KSO, who do you perform with?
I'm fortunate to play with different people and ensembles every week! Some of the most frequent include Black Dog String Quartet, Allegra Chamber Orchestra, Plastic Acid Orchestra, Vivace, Ford Pier and Strength of Materials, Vancouver Metropolitan Orchestra, and Prince George Symphony. I've also performed with Rod Stewart, Kanye West, Michael Buble, Father John Misty, and many other artists, and will be making appearances in the coming weeks with Sarah Slean and Richard Clayderman.

What are some interesting places you have traveled to?
Travelled and toured all around Europe and Asia and loved it all.

What are your hobbies outside of music?
Activism (human and animal rights); going to concerts, plays, and movies; reading articles about science

What is your favourite flavour of ice cream?
'So Delicious' cashew-based Cinnamon Cookie Dough flavour, or 'Coconut Bliss' Chocolate Peanut Butter flavour

Do you get nervous? And how do you calm your nerves before a performance?
I don't typically get nervous before performances anymore, unless they're exceptionally difficult or high-pressure solos.

Please add anything that you'd like to share with our audience:
Thank you for supporting the KSO!