Adam Liebert (2016)
First Violin
Website
What are your most important educational and musical moments?
Every moment that involves music is important to me. I typically feel invested in whatever music is on the program in a particular week.
Past highlights include playing at Carnegie Hall twice with the Grand Rapids Symphony, and touring Italy, Russia, Ukraine, Hungary, Japan and China with the Philharmonie der Nationen. Playing with the Philharmonie der Nationen was one of the most amazing experiences, not just because we played beautiful music, but also because of the musicians were from all over the world: the string players were almost all Eastern European, the woodwind players were mostly from Germany and the Brass musicians were either British or American. It was wonderful visiting so many amazing places with friends and colleagues who were from those places. At Baroque on Beaver, I’ve enjoyed the opportunity to lead as well as act as a soloist in works by Corelli, Handel, Holst and others.
Tell us about your family.
My husband, Scott Hostetler, plays the English horn with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Accordingly, I live in Chicago part-time.
My stepmother’s family introduced me to Beaver Island. Her brothers had been coming to the island for many years. Once in 2005 I came to visit them and learned that the island was a truly special place. When I was offered the chance to play for the Baroque on Beaver festival, I did not hesitate for a second.
Why did you choose music?
I think I was always interested in music. I started playing the piano when I was 7 or 8 but switched to the violin at age 11. In the summers, I attended the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp and after eighth grade was fortunate enough to travel to Europe and tour Belgium, Netherlands, Switzerland and Germany with Blue Lake’s International Program. Around this time, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in music, but also knew it would be hard. I thought about other careers – perhaps being a dentist – but this just made me laugh and I knew I wouldn’t do well or like it very much. I graduated from Western Michigan University with a Bachelor of Music in Performance. After graduation, I studied in Germany for two years and then came back to the U.S.
Why did you choose your instrument?
In early elementary school, my best friend and his sister both played the violin and I enjoyed watching them play. My friend’s sister was so talented that the family ultimately moved to New York so that she could attend the Juilliard School pre-college program. When it came to choosing an instrument in the 6th grade, my sister chose the viola and a few years later I chose the violin.
What else are you currently doing?
Currently, I play with the Grand Rapids Symphony, and am also Assistant Principal Fourth Chair with the West Michigan Symphony (in Muskegon). I enjoy chamber music concerts in Saugatuck and at the Meijer Gardens in the summers as well as other performing opportunities.
Any non-musical interests or hobbies?
I really like working on small projects with computers, binge watching TV shows and movies, and working out at OrangeTheory gym.
