Musician Spotlights - Emily Severson, Viola

Marching on with the month of January, we’ve got a spotlight on another violist, Emily!

I grew up in San Jose, CA. We moved to the Rogue Valley when my husband finished graduate school 12 years ago. We have 5 children that I homeschool. 

I took violin lessons with my sister when I was very young. For years I studied with a teacher who scared me. She would often make most of her students cry, and would say things like, “you’re lucky we’re not in Korea, I would hit my students on the leg with a stick.” When she suggested I take up the viola at age 12, I jumped on the chance to have a different teacher. I fell in love with both my new teacher and my new instrument.

I love the kindness and camaraderie of the musicians. I have made so many close friendships with members of the symphony. It’s fun to make music, and it is an even greater joy to make music with people you love being around. Many of the friends who have come to support myself and my children in our lives are my symphony friends. 

I love to bird watch with my husband. We get really excited about discovering new birds and photographing them. I also love to make music videos of my kids. I actually studied film in college so it’s the best of both worlds when I get to make videos and hang out with my family. We’re also obsessed with camping - I think we camp more than any family we know. We love to hike, canoe, kayak, fish, and just be out in nature. 

My instrument was made by a local here in the Rogue Valley.