Today we’d like to introduce you to Megan Berson.
Hi Megan, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I started playing violin from a young age in San Diego California where I later recieved my BA in performance from SDSU. In my youth I was accepted to all state orchestra and was 1st chair in my youth orchestra. We toured 2 times to Australia and New Zealand where we had a chance to perform in the Sydney Opera House and later we toured to Europe playing at the Mozarteum. What a wonderful experience to have in my youth and feel truly lucky to have such experiences at an early stage in my life.
During my college years I played with various chamber music ensembles and world music groups and dabled in Irish Fiddling. After graduating I was playing with an indie electronic band called The Symphony Case and we all voted to tour somewhere and move together as a band. The choises were San Francisco or NYC. NYC won so off we went and when we made it to NYC the band broke up.
10 years later I was still living in NYC. I had an absolute blast living in the city and making music there. I played with a Rock Orchestra a female electro pop duo, an Americana Band and bunch of big bands and string quartets for private events. I got to see many fabulous places while playing for the big cooperate events. One highlight was performing with the Italian artist Zucchero for the Nelson Mandela fest at Radio City Music Hall where I got to share the stage with Stevie Wonder, Cyndi Lauper, Arethra Franklin, Alisha Keys and many more famous musicians.
After living in NYC for 10 years I decided it was time to slow down and move elsewhere since I was pregnant and my lease was up. I had toured to Austin Texas in the past many times with vairous bands I played with and decided it would be a good place to raise a family and still pursue music. Here I am 11 years later playing all over the Hill country and in the Austin area at wineries and rodeos and clubs. One of my main groups I play with is Anthony Garcia and Los Diablos Tejanos. We tour every year to Switzerland and Germany and Colorado and it is such a musically fulfilling group.
Recently I was asked to play in the orchestra for Andrea Bocelli at the Moody Center and that was absolutely incredible. I hope to keep carving out a path to make as much music here in the Austin area and have many more wonderful playing opportunities in the future.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Moving to NYC was so challenging the first year, my instrument was stolen and I had a stalker. I had to hire a private investigator to get my 15k instrument back. Thank god I did as that was the instrument I played with at Radio City Music hall and The Moody Center and Sydney Opera House so it really is a special instrument to me. Moving to Austin was also a challenge, anytime you uproot youself you have to start all over again. I have no family here and really did not know anyone in the Austin area and was a new mom. I was very lonely the first several years here and really was not making any music. As soon as my daughter was a bit older I started to put myself out there and slowly started making music again.
I have also had a series of medical setbacks with breaking my fingers, my arm, and 3 ribs and recently my leg. I also had Kidney Cancer that was thankfully caught in time so that was removed. I just keep on keeping on though
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am known as a violinist and violist. I teach and perform. I think what sets me apart is I am pretty versatile and can play in the fiddle world and classical world as well.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
I subscribe to many fiddle workshops and classical workshops online. I attend Fiddle Hell online. Mostly anything that pertains to music I like to follow.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.meganberson.com
