“The cello has always been my instrument; I simply don’t think I would have been happy playing anything else.”
Cello: Kerstin Isaksson
Meet the Musicians
I’m from Gammelstad, just outside Luleå. After studying at the Stockholm College of Music, it felt only natural to head back north. Ever since I first visited Umeå, when I auditioned for a spot in the symphony orchestra, I’ve thought it’s a very pleasant city to live in.
The cello has always been my instrument; I simply don’t think I would have enjoyed playing anything else. To gain new musical and instrumental insights, I also play the trumpet, though at a very modest level. In addition to playing in the symphony orchestra, I also enjoy playing chamber music with some of my colleagues in the Avatarkvartetten.
I’ve worked for 30 years in the Norrlandsoperan Symphony Orchestra. One of my strongest musical memories from here is the production of the opera *Elektra* during the 2014 European Capital of Culture year. The entire production was impressive, and it was amazing to be part of a larger orchestra than we usually are.
I’ve always been a musician, but for a while I also worked part-time at Sveriges Radio P2 as the host of a show called Entré. While I was studying at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm, I supplemented my student income by working as a security guard at Securitas.
When I was around six years old, however, I wanted to be a “garbage man,” because they got to ride on a step outside the garbage truck between stops to empty the trash cans. After that, I was drawn to the idea of becoming a bus driver because I wanted to sit behind the wheel of a big vehicle. Then I dreamed of becoming a helicopter pilot. I still dream of that, but it’ll have to wait until my next life.
Being part of an orchestra and performing music that can move people and mean something to them is the best part of my job. If I were to learn that, at some point during all my years as a musician, I’ve managed to deeply move someone and contribute to an unforgettable experience, that would be what I’m most proud of. It’s also fantastic to work with colleagues who possess tremendous expertise in their respective fields.
Personal
Over the years, I’ve learned to be more humble and to be careful not to throw stones when living in a glass house. In the summer, I enjoy spending time in the countryside, getting deeply involved in tending the garden or helping out at the apiary. In the winter, I enjoy playing squash. When I’m off work, I prefer to just listen to the silence.
“I play for God and the composer, and the audience is allowed to listen.”
I took a course with the Amadeus Quartet over twenty years ago, and during a lesson with first violinist Norbert Brainin, he said, somewhat grandiosely: “I play for God and the composer, and the audience is allowed to listen.” That statement puzzled me at the time. At first, I thought it was out of touch with reality, but it’s a quote I’ve returned to periodically over the years, turning it over and over in my mind. Nowadays, it gives me the strength to always try to do my best, especially in situations where I—as in the orchestra—am an extremely small part of a large machine.