Overture Magazine: 2017-2018 Season September-October 2017 | Page 46

IMPROMPTU
Lisa Bergman
HORN
“YOU HAVE TO KNOW
WHEN TO TURN IT UP.”
As a horn player, BSO musician Lisa Bergman
knows when to hold back and when to really go
for it. Lisa, who began playing in the fifth-grade
band, knew she wanted to play professionally
after an experience at Interlochen Summer
Music Camp. “I remember we were playing
Tchaikovsky’s Fourth Symphony, and I was so
focused and into the music. When the piece
ended, the audience erupted in applause and I
was just shocked that there was anybody else
there because I was so consumed by what I
was doing. It was that summer that I decided
I wanted to do this for a living.”
And her favorite thing about playing with the
BSO? “When I got here and we did rehearsals,
they sounded great, everything was good. But
then you get to the concert and this orchestra
has another speed. I remember sitting there
and thinking, whoa, this really sounds good.
In music, you have to know when to turn it up.
This orchestra knows when to turn it up and
this orchestra has a ton of energy, which makes
it really exciting.”
But for Bergman, life as a musician is about
finding balance. “I love nature and being out-
doors in a natural setting—that really recharges
me. I love hiking, I love biking, I love being out
on the water. “
In particular, she’s picking back up an old
interest that she finds has many parallels with
music. “I have started playing tennis again.
My mom played when I was growing up and I
would always go to the courts with her. I took
tennis lessons when I was very young and
played in high school, but I kind of let it go for a
while and I’ve started playing again.
“It’s a really great release and it’s also very
much related to music — you have to have
focus and confidence to make it happen. You
have to know when to go all in and when to
hold back a little. With tennis, I’m working on
playing with a little more finesse and letting
myself get into the flow of it, and that’s the
same with the horn.”
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