Get to know Frequency violist Melia Watras

5 Questions for Melia Watras:

What do you love most about being a musician?

Music is such an all-encompassing endeavor. I love how I can immerse every conscious moment I have with music. I feel lucky to have the privilege of being a musician!

Who or what is your greatest musical inspiration?

My former teacher Atar Arad, who I studied with at Indiana University, is my greatest musical inspiration. I love Atar. He’s my musical hero, who I’ve modeled much of my career path after, including being active as a composer. As an artist, he always searches for more, never satisfied with conventional ways of doing things; that’s had a big impact on me. I also draw a lot of inspiration form the playing of Isaac Stern. I can listen to him play anything. It’s such strong and natural music-making, with something very human about the sound at all times. I was fortunate to get to spend time with him at the Isaac Stern Chamber Music Seminar at Carnegie Hall. It was a life-changing experience.

What profession would you be interested in, if you weren't a musician?

I’m really drawn to visual art, and could imagine myself being a painter, or possibly a sculptor (if I had had the training, of course!).

What do you like to do in your spare time? (...if you have any spare time!)

I do Pilates. As a violist, I need to keep my body functioning as well as it can, and Pilates really helps with that. My instructor, Chris Blackburn of Metropolitan Pilates, plays the viola! It was completely coincidental that I ended up with a teacher that also play the viola. He is extremely fun and creative as a Pilates teacher, and these are qualities that I try to emulate with my own viola teaching. I also love to read, but wish I had more time for it!

What is your favorite food/meal/restaurant?

Anyone who has been over to our house for dinner knows what an amazing chef my husband (and Frequency violinist) Mike is. So, I’d have to say that my favorite food is anything that is served at Chez Hubby! Most especially crab cakes, which I request every year for my birthday. Luckily for me, I know the chef and he is happy to oblige!

For more info on Melia Watras, please visit www.meliawatras.com