Caroline Freihofer - Violin

 

My name is Caroline Freihofer, and I have been a violinist with the Grand Rapids Symphony for 21 years. I feel very fortunate to have grown up in Grand Rapids, and I myself participated in great youth programs like St. Cecilia and Grand Rapids Youth Symphony.

 

My senior year of high school, I auditioned for a part time violin position with the GRS and won. It was a thrill to play in a professional orchestra and work with Semyon Bychkov, along with a great list of solo artists. After this experience, I knew that I wanted to pursue a career in music. I attended the University of Michigan where I received Bachelor and Masters degrees in Violin Performance. After freelancing in Minneapolis, I began playing with the Naples (FL) Philharmonic for three years. When an opening came up in the violin section of the Grand Rapids Symphony, I came back home to Grand Rapids and won another job here!

 

I was so pleased to rejoin the orchestra and to be able to raise my family here with my husband, Paul. I currently teach private violin lessons, and am also part of the String Discovery Quartet that travels to different schools to perform for the students and help them try out the string instruments. I am also a teacher for the Mosaic Scholars Program. This program helps pay for the cost of lessons and gives students opportunities to hear the concerts and rehearsals. It has allowed me to work with many very talented students who otherwise would not be able to take violin lessons.

 

All of these activities keep me pretty busy, along with keeping up with son Joe, who is 19, and daughter Anna, who is 15. Oh, and we also have two demanding pups at home that are convinced that my violin students come over to see them, and not really to have a lesson.