Amal Gochenour
IMPROMPTU by Cyrina Yarbrough
Amal Gochenour
PICCOLO
For BSO piccolist Amal Gochenour , traveling the world is a constant source of inspiration . Thanks to her upbringing with two linguist parents , traveling has always been a regular part of her life . When she ' s not performing , she continues to find joy in planning and embarking on trips to new and exciting destinations .
Amal ' s thirst for adventure has taken her trapezing in the Dominican Republic , backpacking through Patagonia , road tripping in Europe , and wading through the biodiverse jungles of Costa Rica . Now accompanied by her husband , Amal seeks to create cherished memories that will last a lifetime .
As a certified scuba diver , Amal also loves exploring the world beyond the surface and dreams of swimming with sharks . When asked if any of these adventures are scary , she simply responds , “ after playing piccolo in the orchestra , nothing else is really that scary !”
One of the most meaningful ways Amal intertwines her love for travel and music is visiting the homes of great composers like Mozart , Prokofiev , and Myaskovsky . These experiences have left a lasting impact on her , reminding her of the human stories behind the music . Amal shares , “ When I ' m playing a piece by one of these composers on stage , I can vividly recall the sunlight pouring into their room and imagine the feelings they must have experienced while creating such beautiful music .” This profound sense of connection imbues her performances with an extra layer of meaning .
When it comes to souvenirs , Amal follows a long-standing family tradition of collecting small , light , and portable items from her travels . For her , refrigerator magnets are perfect reminders of her adventures and she displays them prominently in her kitchen , where they evoke fond memories of the experiences she has had .
Amal encourages others to embrace adventure and seize the opportunity to travel , whether it ' s to a nearby town or a far-off destination , as it can lead to unexpected and enriching experiences .
MITRO HOOD
44 OVERTURE / BSOmusic . org