Discover Elizabeth’s Journey
There is a rare connection between a player and her instrument, and this connection is rarely stronger than with our “poster child” Elizabeth Messier. You’ve seen her face on our website, our promotional materials and even on the cover of this journal. Now a young adult, she has played on a V. Richelieu viola, made by Vermont Violins in South Burlington Vermont, since 2018. In fact, she was one of the earliest players of a V. Richelieu and her viola journey has intertwined with our making journey throughout the past seven years. No longer the child in the photographs we took of her way back then, Elizabeth is completing her undergraduate degree and is about to launch her graduate school experience. We sat down with her to to talk about her story, from her first notes on the viola to her aspirations for a career in music, and her special connection to our V. Richelieu instruments.
Elizabeth began playing viola at the age of eight and has now been playing for 13 years. Before picking up the viola, she had been playing the piano since she was six years old. Initially, Elizabeth was interested in playing the cello, but as a small child, her mother didn't think they made cellos that small. She was inspired to switch to the viola after attending a local chamber concert where she heard her first viola teacher playing. She loved the sound and the size seemed "much more doable" than the cello. Elizabeth had not heard of the viola before this concert and found its sound "so interesting". She and her mom went to a Vermont Violins with her new teacher and got her first viola an 11 inch model.
Read on to discover Elizabeth's journey, learn from her experiences, and find out what advice she has for young musicians and more.
Musical Experiences and Career Aspirations
Being a senior soloist with the Vermont Youth Orchestra was one of my most important musical experiences. I played the Bruch Romanze in February of my senior year. It was a very special moment for me because it was something I had wanted to do since I started in the program.
More recently, I played in the Lake George Music Festival last summer. That was the first festival I had done in years, and it was so nice to be around so many like-minded people again. It really reinvigorated my love for playing.
Playing in an orchestra is a unique experience. I love how everyone comes together with their own skills and talents to create something special. As a violist, you're often playing a supportive role, but when we get the melodic sections, they are fantastic. It’s so fun to see how all the different instruments fit together and have their own place in the orchestra.
Photo Courtesy - Emir Horozovic
Dreams for the Future
I'll be a senior in college this year, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Music. I hope to go to grad school for viola performance and am currently looking at schools in Boston, Maryland, and California. Eventually, I'd love to join a professional orchestra. I also want to continue playing a lot of chamber music because I love those small group settings. My immediate goal is to go to grad school and then join an orchestra.
A Lasting Connection to Vermont Violins and V. Richelieu
The V. Richelieu has been a huge part of my musical journey. I got my first V. Richelieu in the middle of my freshman year of high school and was excited to try one of the new, locally-made instruments. I had that viola for seven years, which is a testament to its quality, as I had never had an instrument longer than a year and a half before that. Having such a high-quality, affordable, and locally accessible instrument was pivotal in my journey. Now, the new V. Richelieu I have is even better.
Being a part of the Vermont Violins community is very special. Vermont is a unique state, and the musical community here is very tight-knit. Everybody seems to know everybody, which is very helpful for making connections. The shop has played a big role in my ability to make these connections.
I've also noticed the shop's efforts toward sustainable craftsmanship, especially with the Ebony Alternative Fingerboards. It's cool to see that playing an instrument can be connected to issues like climate change and sustainability. My current and previous V. Richelieu violas both have these sustainable fingerboards. It's awesome that the shop is able to provide such high-quality instruments while also being environmentally aware.
Photo Courtesy - Emir Horozovic
Being a Marketing Image
It's super fun to see myself featured in the marketing images for Vermont Violins and V. Richelieu. I sometimes forget about it until a friend texts me a picture of my face on a pamphlet. The funniest experience was when a college friend was visiting Burlington and found a picture of me on Google while looking for things to do. It was like my worlds were colliding.
I do have a particular photo that's special to me. My mom used to tell me to lighten up and look like I was having fun while playing because I had a very serious playing face. I remember trying not to look so serious during the photoshoot. There are a few pictures where I can tell I forgot in the moment, but I think it's cool because that's how I was at a young age and how I still am now.
Advice to Younger Players
My early experiences shaped my journey in a big way. Starting so young made music feel like "second nature" to me. I didn't get a chance to be exposed to the idea that classical music is a "dying art" that only "old ladies" listen to. Because I started so early, it became a part of my everyday routine, and I think that was to my benefit.
If I could give advice to younger players, I would tell them to be patient with themselves. You're not going to be perfect the first time you pick up an instrument, and it's important not to get too worked up about it. Remember that there is a learning curve, and even if it doesn't sound good at first, you will improve over time if you work hard and have patience.
V. RICHELIEU VIOLA
We design and build violas for the next generation of violists.
We start at the beginning. We place small fractional violas designed and built in our Vermont workshop into small hands to play viola music as it was composed to play. We do not compromise, and neither should you.
Don’t play a converted violin. Play a real viola. Play a V. RICHELIEU™ small viola. Each V. RICHELIEU™ viola is uniquely crafted to make each piece of wood sing in full voice. The instruments are built in Vermont to combine over 80 years of experience with unique hand graduations and a beautiful hand-painted oil varnish of our own proprietary formulation.
Available as small as 11” to 16”. Real Violas for Aspiring Soloists!