Oberlin Portrait: Keith Lawrence

Rising sophomore violist Keith Lawrence, from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania was recently selected to perform as a soloist with the Pittsburgh Symphony, as the winner of the 1999 Duquesne Young Artist Competition. Duquesne University sponsors this competition for students in Pittsburgh and surrounding areas, to give young musicians the opportunity to solo with the Pittsburgh Symphony. The competition has two age categories: 18 and under, and 19-25. Lawrence, an 18-year-old, won the former, from among approximately 100 contestants.

"I didn't think I was going to win," says Lawrence. "I was prepared, but I had a lot of other stuff going on. I had applied, but forgot the competition date, so I showed up in jeans and a t-shirt and saw people going into the theater, so I went in and played. The winner of the junior competition gets to play one movement of any concerto with Pittsburgh Symphony, which I did on April 26. The conductor, Lucas Richman, asked me to play a movement from the Carl Stamitz viola concerto."

Lawrence says that winners are scheduled to perform in the "Musicians of the Future" concert--a concert aimed at families, students and young musicians--in the orchestral season following their win. "Performing with the symphony was really cool," says Lawrence. "That night there was a side-by-side portion in which middle and high school students got to play with players from the Pittsburgh Symphony."

"I had never been so nervous in my life," continues Lawrence. "I felt like a dog--my left leg would not stop shaking, even on-stage. I looked up and saw a whole row of all my friends and family together, so the nervousness didn't stop until I played the very last note of the piece."

Despite the nerves, Lawrence says the performance "went really well. There were certain parts that were weird. I was not used to playing with an orchestra. At times, I couldn't hear them at all, but I just had to keep going. It was a lot of fun and I'd love to do it again sometime."

Lawrence hasn't always played the viola. In fact, his musical training began with clarinet lessons from when he was eight until ten years old. "My best friend used to play viola and every week we would switch instruments for fun," says Lawrence. "After a while I wanted to play viola, so my music teacher gave me a viola and that was the end of it. I went to a different high school every year, but senior year of high school I studied at Duquesne University. Then I auditioned at Oberlin and was accepted."

What draws Lawrence to the viola? "It has really deep, rich sound," he says. "I like the C-string. I also like the cello, but it's too deep, heavy and dark. Viola is right in the middle and really beautiful."

What is your first memory of music?
My first memory of music is hearing Marvin Gaye and other Motown classics when I was just a baby. My parents would always have some music playing at all hours of the day.

How old were you when you started musical training?
I didn't start playing the viola until I was 10, almost 11, years old.

What inspired you to be a musician? What keeps you inspired on discouraging days?
My inspiration comes from the teachers I work with, my parents, my friends, and other family. They always let me know how proud they are of me, how much they know I can improve, how much potential I have to be a great musician, and also, I know that my musical talent is an extension of me. I can express so much that words cannot describe by playing. If I can make an audience feel an emotion, without using a single word, that's enough to keep me going daily.

What is the most memorable performance you have ever seen and why?
There are actually two. The first was when I played in the World Youth Symphony Orchestra at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. It was such an amazing experience; I'll never forget that. The second would be when I performed Ravel's "Daphnis et Chloe" with the Duquesne University Orchestra. The conductor Kevin Noe had the ability to make the whole orchestra feel his emotions, and when we all started playing, you could look around and see some members of the orchestra crying. Everyone felt the piece, and we all created music. It was amazing.

If you could perform with one musician living or dead, who would it be and what would you perform?
There are so many. I would love to perform with William Primrose, or Hindemith, or Nat King Cole. I have no clue which pieces I would play, but it would be amazing to play anything with them.

If you could master another instrument, what would it be?
I think it would have to be voice, because all the men in my family have the most amazing voices. They can fill any hall. I would love to have the rich sound they all do. It's indescribable.

If you couldn't be a musician what profession would you choose? Which profession would you definitely not choose?
I would definitely choose some form of marketing or advertising because I enjoy being creative and using my imagination, and that's what those fields are all about. I would definitely NOT choose to be a mathematician. I just don't have the patience, nor the personal interest in mathematics, though they are part of music. I just could not do that for the rest of my life.

What do you listen to after a long day?
It depends--anything from Me'shell Ndegeocello to Shostakovich. I have eclectic taste in music. I have about 500 CDs, and the music I listen to depends on the day, the time, the weather, and my mood.

What do you like to read?
I love to read historical and sci-fi books. I love learning about different cultures and historical events. I also love the imagination that goes into sci-fi. I always make mental pictures while I'm reading--like a movie in my head. So it's very interesting to try and imagine an historical event, and the same for sci-fi. Special effects with your imagination can be cool!

Three words that describe you:
Direct, honest, fun and ambitious. (So I named four--sue me!)