Exceptional Violin Student Places First in a Trio of Concerto Competitions

Stacie Lin is on a roll. Since April, violinist Stacie has won three different concerto competitions throughout New Hampshire, all while balancing a heavy course load at Bedford High School.

On April 12, Stacie won the Young Artist Concerto Competition held by the Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra. As the competition winner, she performed the first movement of Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto with the Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra on June 8 at The Music Hall in Portsmouth.

On May 10, she won the Fifth Annual Lakes Region Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition and will be soloing with them on Nov. 8. On May 24, Stacie won the New Hampshire Philharmonic’s Twelfth Annual Youth Concerto Competition, which took place at the Manchester Community Music School. She will perform with them during their 2014-2015 season.

These wins come as the result of a lot of hard work by this talented young lady who not only stands out musically but academically, hoping one day to dual major in science and music. Stacie shines on her violin, which she affectionately refers to as Walter, due to her demanding yet encouraging violin teacher, Elliott Markow of Manchester Community Music School. Markow has performed with Boston Pops, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Granite State Symphony and the NH Philharmonic.

Lin began studying the violin when she was 3 and a half. She moved to the area when she was in 6thgrade and started taking lessons at the Music School. She was paired with an instructor and after one lesson that teacher, realizing her talent, moved her up to Elliott.

Stacie has been taking lessons with Elliott for 5 years now and describes him as a “very demanding and very supportive teacher.” She credits Markow with introducing her to and preparing her for many of the playing opportunities she has had.

She has played in the New Hampshire Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra as Principle Second Violinist and played in the NH Youth Symphony Orchestra for two years. Stacie is currently a first violinist of the NH Philharmonic.

Throughout the past year, Lin has performed as soloist at a TEDx Amoskeag Millyard event, with the Granite State Symphony Orchestra, with the UMass Lowell Concert for Hope Orchestra, and at her private violin recital. She credits her private recital at Manchester Community Music School for preparing her to play at these larger concerts. In addition, she has also been invited to play at the Currier Museum of Art, the Zimmerman House designed by renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright, churches, weddings, and other ceremonies. Not only does she play the violin as a soloist, Stacie is a member of the Harmonious Quartet as well. The quartet has participated in the annual Skidmore College String Festival for the past two years, where they received coaching from the American String Quartet, the Ying Quartet, and performed at the Arthur Zankel Music Center.

When asked how she balances a rigorous school load with her violin studies and performances, Stacie had this to say: For most high school students, time management is key to balancing school and extracurricular activities. Playing the violin has taught me to commit and to focus when a period of time has specifically been dedicated to that activity. I have learned to always plan before taking action, and find I really relate to a quote by Leonard Bernstein: “To achieve great things, two things are needed; a plan, and not quite enough time.” After planning, all I have to do is efficiently execute. And since I already know what needs to be done, there will be few surprises or stressed-out moments. I don’t do my best work late at night, so I tend to wake up early to study; this also leaves more time for practicing my violin in the afternoon or evening. I generally try to practice 1-2 hours everyday and listen a ton to specific pieces I am currently working on. After 13 years, this has become a daily routine.

It is this daily routine, along with the guidance and teachings of Elliot Markow and Manchester Community Music School, that have made Stacie the performer she is today.

Submitted by the Manchester Community Music School. Courtesy photo.