March 30, 2022
EPISODE DESCRIPTION:
Lydia Becker, former intern with Pegasus Early Music, joins us to discuss the experience of interning for a major arts organization, from the ins-and-outs of everyday business to the more memorable moments that led her toward the work she is doing today. Lydia shares some advice for students looking to intern with major ensembles, and talks about her experience moving from intern to employee for the same institution.
ABOUT
Lydia Becker is an innovative violinist who is passionate about building a vibrant audience relationship through historical performance practices, artistic diversity, and effective arts administration. Her quest for authenticity in all areas of life has forged her eclectic career path.
Lydia always loved Baroque music, but got swept into the exciting world of historical performance when she first met Christel Thielmann and Paul O’Dette at the Eastman School of Music as an undergraduate violinist. The freedom and creativity allowed in these older performance practices immediately sparked Lydia’s passion for exploring new music from the past. Having earned three degrees in Violin Performance and Early Music with high distinction from the Eastman School of Music, Lydia is continuing her graduate studies in Historical Performance at the Juilliard School.
Curiosity fuels Lydia’s music-making; consequently, she strives for musical excellence in all musical styles and genres. Lydia has performed internationally in numerous festivals and concerts, sharing the stage with renowned artists, including Paul O’Dette, Monica Huggett, and Maxim Vengerov. She is a founding member of the Berwick Fiddle Consort, a historically-informed folk band; Luminaria, a multi-sensory watercolor-harp-violin duet; and the Kenaniah Project, an eclectic jazz-classical-folk chamber ensemble that presents sacred Christian music from a fresh perspective.
Lydia is equally skilled as an arts administrator, and recently was the administrative manager for Pegasus Early Music and NYS Baroque for three years. Since 2017, Lydia has served as assistant to the orchestra director at the Boston Early Music Festival summer season, helping to coordinate the orchestra’s logistics at one of the largest early music festivals in the world. Lydia is a Catherine Filene Shouse Arts Leadership Program fellow and earned a Certificate in Arts Leadership at the Eastman School of Music.
LISTEN & LEARN
Full Episode on Anchor
Transcript