This interview was conducted prior to Sienna graduating from MSM in May 2024.
Sienna George (BM ’22, MM ’24) is a second year master’s student studying double bass at MSM. She talks to us about her time at MSM, making instrument mutes, 和 her summer plans.
关于西耶娜·乔治
Sienna was born 和 raised in Long Beach, California. She studied under the tutelage of Jeremy McCoy at MSM. 音乐之外, Sienna h和-carves wooden mutes which she has sold to musicians all around the world.
Sienna grew up playing piano, guitar, cello, 和 m和olin before picking up bass. Her first orchestra experience was in Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra. She has performed in venues such as Carnegie Hall, 迪士尼音乐厅, 塞格斯特罗姆艺术中心, 在荷兰, 意大利, 以及整个中国.
She is a member of Brooklyn Chamber Orchestra, 纽约阿拉伯管弦乐团, accompanying Albert 和 Alex Markov 和 actor Alec Baldwin. 西耶娜演奏爵士乐, 民间, 岩石, 和巴西音乐, performing in music festivals including Lightning in a Bottle, LB爱的盛宴, 爱德怀德夏日音乐节, LB放克音乐节, 回声公园崛起, 和更多的.
What first drew you to playing double bass?
黄土说: I was drawn to the double bass because it exists in every genre, 以不同的方式, but always as a powerful supporting role. I also love feeling the deep vibrations of the instrument while I play 和 knew this would be a healing instrument to share good vibrations with the world.
Why did you choose to study at MSM?
黄土说: I chose to study at MSM for both my undergrad 和 master’s because of the community. I feel so supported as a classical musician 和 as a human being. The faculty really cares about us being well-rounded artists 和 people, 和 what better place to do that than in NYC? I always felt encouraged by MSM to pursue my career both as a classical musician 和更多的. The connections I have made at MSM, both professionally 和 personally, 改变了我的生活, 和 I am so grateful to the school for that 和 hope to pass this on to other alumni.
The faculty really cares about us being well-rounded artists 和 people, 和 what better place to do that than in NYC? I always felt encouraged by MSM to pursue my career both as a classical musician 和更多的.
What is your most memorable MSM moment?
黄土说: I have two most memorable moments at MSM. 首先,执行 《火博体育官网》 由乔治·马纳汉指挥. He conducted 和 played harpsichord at the same time 和 would change the chord voicings every night. Each performance had a different joy 和 expression, 和 the orchestra felt so cohesive. We were having fun, as you should when playing Mozart.
My other favorite memory was my graduating recital for my undergraduate at MSM in 2022. 我演奏巴赫, Ukranian music to share my sentiment for those suffering in Ukraine, 和 I sang 和 played bass on some of my original songs with a jazz trio. I was surrounded by friends, family, 和 felt so much gratitude to have learned so much at MSM.
You make string instrument mutes, how did you get into this?
黄土说: My dad is a woodworker 和 set designer 和 taught me how to make mutes when I was in high school. I have always been passionate about carving, whether it’s wood or stone or clay. I showed my mutes to my bass professor in the New York Phil 和 quickly found clients in major orchestras all over the world. I carve my mutes in my woodshop in California, then bring them back to NYC to finish 和 sell. I make mutes for violin, viola, cello, 和 bass.
What do you love about woodworking?
黄土说: Woodworking is humble 和 timeless. Just like classical music, there are not many shortcuts to making a beautiful product or sound. You have to imagine what your end goal is, because it is already there. All you have to do is sculpt or carve your sound to find the beauty you seek.
I love how woodworking is art but is so connected to music. I have worked as a luthier, building 和 repairing guitars 和 basses, 和 I now work at Salchow & Sons, a bow shop near Carnegie Hall. Working with wood has helped me become a better musician 和 underst和 how our instruments work.
你接下来要做什么? 有什么有趣的暑期计划吗??
黄土说: I will stay in NYC when I graduate this spring. I will 继续 with my woodworking career, as well as freelancing with orchestras 和 taking auditions. Outside of classical music, I play a lot of Arabic music, jazz, 和 indie music around the city. When I’m not playing music, you can find me doing yoga 和 岩石 climbing. In August I will likely run off to Mexico or Morocco to surf for a month 和 write songs by the ocean.
